Learning English - Words in the News

09 January, 2008 - Published 13:35 GMT

Chinese ice sculptures melting

Animals, people, even buildings are turned into intricate sculptures
A famous ice festival in China is the latest victim of rising global temperatures. Every winter tens of thousands of tourists go to Harbin, in the far north east of China, to see the city's ice sculptures. But with higher temperatures, the sculptures are starting to melt. This report from Michael Bristow:
Listen to the story
Harbin is one of China's coldest cities. In winter, temperatures can drop as low as minus 35 degrees centigrade. Despite this harsh climate, the city has turned itself into a popular winter tourist destination. Visitors arrive from across Asia to experience the cold - and see the city's ice sculptures. Animals, people, even famous buildings are turned into intricate sculptures that are lit up at night.
But, there's a problem - winters just aren't as cold as they used to be. Last year, Harbin had its warmest year since records began. And that means the city's famous ice sculptures are melting earlier.
The ice festival traditionally lasts until the end of February. But this year, there are fears the ice will have melted long before then. And this is not just a worry for environmentalists. Harbin's ice festival is the city's biggest source of income. If the ice goes, so do the tourists. (Si la glace va, les touristes aussi)
Michael Bristow, BBC News, Beijing
Listen to the words
*)temperatures can drop as low as :

the weather can be very cold

*)harsh :

severe or very cold

*)has turned itself into :

the people and businesses of the city have made it become

*) tourist destination :

a place where travellers and holiday makers want to go to visit

*)ice sculptures :

statues that are not permanent because they are made of ice (rather than stone)

*)intricate sculptures :

statues that have a lot of small, complicated details, carvings or markings

*)since records began :

from the time that people first started to keep information (about weather temperatures) for future reference, by writing it down or storing it on a computer

*)melting :

changing from ice to water (when heat is applied to the ice)

*)environmentalists :

people who try to protect the world from being damaged by human activities

*)income :

money from doing work or having a business (here, money from tourists during the ice festival)
Read more about this storyTry a comprehension quiz based on this story
For teachersDownload a lesson plan based on this story (89 K)