More than 1,200 students and faculty members at a Chinese university created a massive snow artwork depicting China’s Fujian aircraft carrier and fighter jets, turning a frozen campus landscape into a striking military-themed spectacle.

The display was completed on December 29 in Harbin, a city known for its extreme winter conditions and elaborate ice and snow creations. Using snow-covered ground as their canvas, participants carefully sculpted the outline of the aircraft carrier while surrounding it with detailed formations of fighter jets, giving the scene the appearance of an aerial military operation frozen in time.

Aerial footage of the artwork shows the sheer scale of the project, with the carrier stretching across a wide open area and the jet formations arranged with precision. Organizers said the project required coordinated planning, teamwork, and hours of labor in subzero temperatures, highlighting both artistic creativity and collective effort.

The Fujian aircraft carrier, which entered sea trials in recent years, represents a major symbol of China’s expanding naval capabilities. By recreating the vessel in snow, students blended seasonal tradition with national symbolism, drawing widespread attention online for both the craftsmanship and the message conveyed.

The snow installation has since attracted large crowds of onlookers and has gone viral on social media, where viewers praised the ambition and execution of the project. The event underscores how winter art in northern China continues to evolve beyond decorative themes, increasingly incorporating large-scale, culturally and politically symbolic designs.