Preparation for 38th int’l snow sculpture art expo enters final stage in Harbin

Preparations for the 38th Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Art Expo are entering their final construction stage in Harbin, the capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, with 70 percent of the work completed.

Covering an area of 1.5 million square meters, this year's expo will feature more than 260 snow sculptures.

All sculptures are expected to be completed by late December.

At the entrance of the expo stands "Mr. Snowman," an iconic snow sculpture towering 23.8 meters high and crafted from 5,000 cubic meters of snow. Inside the park, visitors are welcomed by two charming panda snow sculptures representing Zhi Shi and Zhi Ma, the pair of giant pandas that made Sun Island their home in August this year.

With the upcoming lunar year being the Year of the Horse, horses have become especially popular at this year's expo.

Another unique feature of this year's expo is the broadcasting studio of China Media Group (CMG). This marks the second consecutive year that CMG has established a studio at the expo.

In about a week, the expo will officially open its doors to visitors, offering an experience of the romance and joy of winter in this stunning frozen wonderland.

Preparation for 38th int’l snow sculpture art expo enters final stage in Harbin

France and Canada opened consulates in Nuuk, Greenland's capital, on Friday to show support for their NATO ally Denmark.

It comes amid repeated threats by U.S. President Donald Trump to acquire the Arctic territory, which have caused months of strained relations with Europe.

France is the first European Union (EU) country to establish a diplomatic mission in Greenland.

Jean-Noel Poirier has taken up the post as the French consul general in Nuuk, a move to strengthen France's consular network, the French Foreign Ministry said in a post on social media X.

Canada's Foreign Minister Anita Anand, Canadian Governor General Mary Simonand and Greenlandic Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt attended the opening ceremony of Canada's new consulate.

Simonand will also meet with Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen during her stay, local media reported.

Greenland, the world's largest island, is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, with Copenhagen retaining control over defense and foreign policy. Since returning to office in 2025, Trump has repeatedly expressed a desire to "obtain" Greenland, a move that has been repeatedly rejected by Europe.

France, Canada open consulates in Greenland in support of Denmark