Ji Huailong, 37, was polishing the ice sculpture carefully. [Photo by Zou Hong/China Daily]

More than two dozen ice sculptors from all over China joined the International Ice Sculpture Invitational Tournament came together last weekend at Beijing Workers Stadium, where the New Year Ice Lantern Carnival continues through Feb 13.

While participants were busy carving and polishing their ice artwork with various tools in a shed with constant temperature, the carnival spectators could watch them work. The event showcases magnificent ice sculptures and ice lanterns in a contest with the theme "colorful Chinese dream". The finalists included beautiful portraits and cute animals, and the judges named one champion, two second-prize winners and three third-prize finishers.

The first prize went to an ice sculpture that was a side view of the face of a pretty girl, with headwear of a peony, a butterfly and a ribbon. It's 2 meters high and 1 meter wide, titled Natural Beauty. Ji Huailong, 37, and his wife, Guo Likun, from Harbin, Heilongjiang province, took one and a half days to create it. In 2007, they met each other in an ice-sculpture contest, fell in love and then got married.