China's Vasaloppet in Changchun witnesses hundreds of elite skiers competing to get their first China stamp on their Vasaloppet 'passport' since the country officially joined the global organization last summer. Wang Jing / China Daily

The colossal carvings of buildings, women and Mao Zedong impressed Norwegian Siv Amdal.

"We haven't seen something like that before," the 50-year-old says.

Finn Bjorn Ahlnas says Chinese snow sculptors have been traveling to northern Finland to shape winter theme parks.

"They're talented," the 61-year-old says.

"But I haven't seen snow sculptures of the proportions I have in Changchun."

A Temple of Heaven replica enchanted his wife, 59-year-old Harriet Ahlnas.

"Oh, it's so beautiful!" she says.

"I hope we can see the original in Beijing."

Changchun was her first race.

"I ski a lot in Finland," Harriet Ahlnas says.

"I just did 88 km in six days. I like skiing, but I'm not the competition kind."