In preparation for hosting the upcoming iteration of the quadrennial Asian Winter Games this year, China's famed "Snow City," Harbin, unveils a towering sculpture of the town's adorable ambassadors, the "Truant Penguin," last Friday, Jan. 12.
According to the state-controlled publication CGTN, the snow sculpture stands a dizzying 65 feet and 7 inches tall at the open square south of the Harbin Grand Theatre. Harbin's cute backpacking mascots also came to support the unveiling event.
Harbin unveils the towering "Truant Penguin" sculpture featuring an appearance from the little critters it is named and based after, coming all the way from the Harbin Polarland theme park.
'Truant Penguins,' Harbin's Tiny Ambassadors
When they're not blessing a gigantic statue honoring their cuteness or opening for the world's largest "Ice and Snow Festival," the penguins spend their time entertaining would-be visitors at the Harbin Polarland theme park.
In a statement to the state publication, the park's manager Zhang Jiwei explained that the "Truant Penguins" have made an image for themselves at the snow-themed park through their backpack-carrying and frolicking, which consequently earned them a name that references "playful students.
The penguins' typical routine consists of lining up, waddling, and bonding with park visitors, a tried and true act that reliably pulls crowds upon crowds of admirers.
The stubby flightless birds have even enthralled scores of internet users across a variation of social media and short-form video-sharing platforms.
In addition, the "Truant Penguins" have also been recognized with a prestigious honor from the International Advertising Institute, a non-profit organization known within the marketing industry, for establishing one of the most influential attractions in the culture and tourism space.
This endearing attraction with its unique charms has become a phenomenon of its own, an annual tradition, and, to date, only the Harbin Polarland holds the honor of hosting an outdoor penguin attraction across the whole country.
For years to come, the "Truant Penguins" and their floppy little feet will continue to enrich winter-centered festivities of the "Snow City" within the Heilongjiang Province of China.
Thus, they are now an undeniable part of Harbin's distinctive culture and tourism, worthy of becoming a welcoming symbol in the upcoming continent-wide sports event.
