Led by a designer, over 30 snow sculptors began work on giant snow masterpieces on Monday, beginning construction on the first of many works to grace the 20th International Snow Sculpture Art Expo in the frigid city of Harbin, capital of north-east China's Heilongjiang Province.

Local news website northeast.cn reported that the snow sculpture artists were working on Monday, named "Romance", will be the world's highest snow sculpture, measuring 35 meters high and 200 meters long.

"Romance" is the theme sculpture of the art expo and is expected to be finished on December 20.

(CRI December 12, 2007)