The group of 28 ice carvers from Harbin, China, are using ice picks and chainsaws to create one-of-a-kind ice sculptures at ICE LAND: Ice Sculptures, A Caribbean Christmas at Moody Gardens of Galveston Island, the U.S. state of Texas, on Nov. 12, 2016. (Xinhua/Zhang Yongxing)
GALVESTON, the United States, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Caribbean and the Texas Gulf Coast are 1,500 miles apart, but the two have come together with some creative help from Chinese ice carvers in the Gulf Coast island city of Galveston.
The group of 28 ice carvers from Harbin, China, are using ice picks and chainsaws to create one-of-a-kind ice sculptures at ICE LAND: Ice Sculptures, A Caribbean Christmas.
Now in its third year, the holiday ice exhibit at Moody Gardens opens on Saturday inside a 28,000-square feet insulated tent structure that is kept at a constant 9 degrees Fahrenheit.
There, the Chinese team is sculpting ordinary 300-pound blocks of colored ice into towering and majestic works of art that includes coral reefs, marine animals and even a replica of the Moody Gardens Aquarium Pyramid.
The team is led by chief ice and snow carving artist Qui Guanghui, who has received top honors in numerous international tournaments, including the Harbin International Ice and Snow Carving and the Chinese National Ice Carving Competition.
The group of 28 ice carvers from Harbin, China, are using ice picks and chainsaws to create one-of-a-kind ice sculptures at ICE LAND: Ice Sculptures, A Caribbean Christmas at Moody Gardens of Galveston Island, the U.S. state of Texas, on Nov. 12, 2016. (Xinhua/Zhang Yongxing)
More than 2 million pounds of ice have been shipped into Galveston to create the spectacular sculptures.
"We're really excited," Brandon Compton, assistant general manager at Moody Gardens, told Xinhua. "We think that we have an event that tops what we have done in previous years, and we look forward to the debut for our guests."
Yongqiang Fan, one of the 28 ice carvers, said that the project is challenging because they are using different methods to carve the sea animals and large structures such as a submarine and Oil Rig Ice Slide.
The exhibit takes visitors on ice journey of the Texas Gulf Coast, a Moody Gardens official said.
The group of 28 ice carvers from Harbin, China, are using ice picks and chainsaws to create one-of-a-kind ice sculptures at ICE LAND: Ice Sculptures, A Caribbean Christmas at Moody Gardens of Galveston Island, the U.S. state of Texas, on Nov. 12, 2016. (Xinhua/Zhang Yongxing)
"You will walk through the coral and all the beautiful fish, then you go on a submarine and eventually end up at a Caribbean Island destination to celebrate Christmas with Santa," Jerri Hamachek, manager of marking and PR at Moody Gardens, told Xinhua.
Visitor Thomas Zieglar called the exhibit "very eye-catching."
"There's so much work put in by these guys that just makes the beauty come out in the ice," said Zieglar, who comes from Alvin, southeast of Houston.
"I wish more places did stuff like this. It lets you think outside the box."
