Thai vocational student teams claimed multiple awards at the 18th International Collegiate Snow Sculpture Contest in Harbin, China on Wednesday.

Of the four participating schools from Thailand, two teams — Chiangrai Vocational College and Saowabha Vocational College — shared first prize, according to the Office of the Vocational Education Commission (Ovec).

The annual event, organised by Harbin Engineering University and the China-Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival, started on Sunday and concluded on Wednesday in the capital of Heilongjiang province in northeastern China.

The competition drew 49 teams from China, England, Thailand, Portugal, Switzerland, Macau, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Ukraine.

The team from Chiang Rai won with their snow sculpture titled “Fighting Fish Blooming in the Snowland”. The piece was inspired by Thai betta fish, a symbol of beauty, strength and fighting spirit. The four fish were designed to swim around a globe in a cascading arrangement, representing the process of intellectual growth based on the Buddhist concept of Four Types of Lotus.

The team consists of four fine arts students: Jiarpreeya Yananuan, Kanlayaporn Chaiyachomphon, Marisa Baejaeku and Wathirakarn Siriphiboontham.

The four members of the Saowabha College team from Bangkok — Atikun Thaweewilaisirikun, Aphichoke Chanthana, Thitirat Sangjirang and Panrada Thipphayachan — won with a piece titled “Goddess of Life — The Water Giver”. It was inspired by the ways in which water is important for the Thai way of living, rooted in deep cultural traditions.

“Fighting Fish Blooming in the Snowland” (left) and “Goddess of Life — The Water Giver”.

The first and second runners-up were Ubon Ratchathani Vocational College and Saraburi Vocational College, respectively.

All of the students are due to arrive in Thailand on Friday at 1.55am, with a congratulatory ceremony to be held at Suvarnabhumi airport.

Also in 2025: Thai students triumph with ice sculptures in Harbin