My dad does ice sculptures... he can and has made a lot of sculptures similar to what is in those pictures for competitions and stuff. In fact, he's gone to Harbin several times to take part in the Snow and Ice Festivals...
Actually, if you want to see some of these things being made, there's a perfect chance coming up two weekends from now.
As part of the Olympic festivities, the O Zone in Richmond will be hosting the 2010 Ice Art World Championship.
http://www.richmondozone.com/program..._championship/
My dad will be competing in this... apparently as Team China... LoL?! He's been a Canadian citizen for like more than thirty years...