In the heart of winter, China once again captured international attention with a feat as monumental as it is fleeting: The construction of the world’s largest snowman. The colossal figure was built in the city of Harbin, in the northeast of the country, a region known for its extreme temperatures and for becoming a global hub of winter tourism each year. This impressive sculpture not only breaks records but also reinforces the city’s reputation as the capital of ice and snow art.
The gigantic snowman stands at nearly 19 meters tall, surpassing previous records and becoming one of the largest snow sculptures ever documented. Its size is comparable to a multi-story building and can be seen from far away, sparking the curiosity of thousands of local and international visitors. The work has quickly become one of the main attractions of the winter season in the region.
How was the world’s largest snowman built in China?
Building the snowman required thousands of cubic meters of compacted snow, as well as coordinated work among professional sculptors, engineers, and dozens of workers. Over several days, the team shaped the snow layer by layer, carefully ensuring both the structural stability and the aesthetic details that bring the figure to life.
The snowman features a friendly expression, a broad smile, and traditional accessories such as a scarf and a hat — elements that add a human and approachable touch to the sculpture. To ensure its durability, the snow was carefully pressed and reinforced, taking into account weather conditions and the total weight of the structure.
The construction process became a spectacle in itself. Dozens of onlookers gathered daily to watch the progress, while images and videos circulated on social media and quickly went viral, positioning the snowman as one of the most talked-about symbols of winter in Asia.
@china360_ Northeast China’s Harbin unveils its beloved giant snowman, standing 19 meters tall and built from 3,500 cubic meters of snow by 64 sculptors and hundreds of workers in 11 days. It began as a 3-meter-tall pile created by a local cleaner in 2019. The snowman has since become a landmark that brings warmth to tourists worldwide. #harbin #iceandsnow #snowman #wintervibes #chinatravel ♬ original sound – China360°
Harbin and the ice-and-snow economy
This monumental creation is part of Harbin’s cultural and tourism ecosystem, a city that transforms every winter thanks to festivals, sculptures, and theme parks built entirely of ice and snow. These initiatives not only hold artistic value but also significantly boost the local economy.
The giant snowman serves as a strategy to attract visitors, energize commerce, hospitality, and tourism services, and strengthen the city’s identity as a unique destination during the coldest months of the year. For many tourists, visiting Harbin in winter has become a must-see experience, comparable to other major seasonal events around the world.