Beijing: Air-India has built an impressive 50-ft-high ice replica of the Taj Mahal at this year's world famous Harbin Ice and Snow Festival in Northeast China.

Describing it as a step to promote Air-India's brand image among Chinese people, its Regional Director, Far East, Southeast Asia and Australia V J Casshyap, said India was participating for the first time at the world-famous ice sculpture show.

"It was a good opportunity for Air-India to showcase Taj Mahal and woo Chinese tourists to India," he said.

Casshyap said that the model was sculpted by Chinese artists and it was one of the major highlights of the show, which got to a rousing start on Jan 5, 2004.

The Taj's ice replica was praised by senior officials of the Heilongjiang province including Governor Feng Fatang and Mayor of Harbin, Shi Zhong Xin, he said.

Air-India will replicate the Taj Mahal in ice in the Northern Japanese city of Sapporo in February where another major ice sculpture festival is going to take place.

Air India started commercial operations in China in December last year.