▲ “ICE FUN WORLD” is being grandly exhibited at Hall F of the Galaxy Expo in the . Photo / Macao Government Tourism Office
▲ A themed area in Macao’s “ICE Fun World” is dedicated to the Macau Grand Prix. Photo / Macao Government Tourism Office
▲ The Macao “ICE Fun World,” claimed to be Asia’s largest ice sculpture exhibition, features works created by over 50 artists using large blocks of ice. Photo / Macao Government Tourism Office

The is hosting the ICE FUN WORLD ice sculpture exhibition, inviting visitors to challenge the cool of minus 8 degrees Celsius; while the Macao Science Center has launched a brand-new animated dome show, Night on the Galactic Railroad, where children can learn about astronomy through short animated stories. With visa-free entry and short flight times, families planning a summer vacation with their kids can spend just a 3-day, 2-night trip to Macao and give their children a summer homework experience unlike any other this year.

Known as the largest ice sculpture exhibition in Asia, ICE FUN WORLD is making its second grand appearance this year at Hall F of the Galaxy Expo in the . From now until September 16, every day from 12 noon to 8 pm, visitors only need to pay 100 Macanese patacas to enter and escape the heat in style.

The organizers claim that to create this new ice sculpture attraction, a total of 50 ice sculptors and nearly 10,000 blocks of ice were used. Visitors can walk through the 1.8-kilometer-long exhibition hall and experience the most colorful snow kingdom.

This year’s ICE FUN WORLD at the in Macao is divided into 10 themed exhibition areas, including those with distinctive Macao features such as the “Macau Grand Prix,” “Pandas,” and “Macao UNESCO World Heritage Sites”; a “Landscapes of Asia” section themed around unique landmarks; as well as children’s favorites like the “Twin Dragon Slide,” “Fairy Tale Forest,” and “Tetris Maze.” In addition to static displays, children can also play on the ice sculptures.

Although both Harbin and Hokkaido in Japan also host large-scale ice exhibitions or snow festivals, these events are only held in winter. The in Macao, just a 90-minute flight from Taiwan, holds its exhibition in the peak of summer heat, offering families not only convenience but also potentially more budget-friendly options.

In addition to ICE FUN WORLD, the Macao Science Center’s Night on the Galactic Railroad is also showing this summer. In 2003, Japanese digital art master KAGAYA adapted the famous children’s literature novel Night on the Galactic Railroad by author Kenji Miyazawa into an animated film, which is what the Macao Science Center is screening.

The Galactic Railroad train will take audiences through fields and villages, admiring the starry skies above the galaxy. By combining animated storytelling with astronomical knowledge and constellation myths, the show captures the attention of children. This educational and entertaining scientific dome animation program is perfect for parents and children to enjoy together.

Additionally, the “One Leaf Knows Autumn – A Special Exhibition of Macao’s Historical Meteorological Instruments” at the Macao Science Center’s Exhibition Hall displays over 20 sets of early meteorological instruments provided by the Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau. It’s a rare and not-to-be-missed exhibition for both adults and children interested in atmospheric science.