Thursday, March 11, 2021

ICE, SNOW MAGNET FOR TOURISM IN HARBIN, CHINA

KUALA LUMPUR, March 11 (Bernama) -- The screams and cheers from the tourists broke the peace of the forest sea and snow plain of Yabuli Ski Resort, located in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang province, on a bitterly cold morning.

Skiing enthusiasts were experiencing the speed and excitement brought by this unique winter sports. A tourist from Guangzhoi, Sun Bin was so excited that he could not wait to slide down the mountain.

Known as either the ‘Oriental Moscow’ or ‘Oriental Paris’, Harbin won fame in late 1800s and early 1900s after construction of the Chinese Eastern Railway financed by the then-Russian Empire.

According to a statement, apart from its unique combination of oriental and European architectural styles, the city is also known for ice and snow festivals in winter, with its first ice lantern fair being held in 1963, while the first ice and snow festival was held in 1985.

Ice and snow have become a magnet for tourism in Harbin, which has been vigorously promoting winter tourism by making full use of its sufficient ice and snow resources.

After development of a few decades, Harbin has gained international attention for its increasingly popular winter extravaganza, the International Ice and Snow Festival, which features massive, elaborate ice sculptures, competitions and winter sports.

In the ‘2021 China Ice and Snow Tourism Development Online Forum’, Harbin ranked first among the ‘China Top 10 Ice and Snow Tourism Destinations’.

Every winter, visitors from home and abroad inundate Harbin, increasing consumption, creating jobs and stimulating the local economy. The city also sees record numbers of bank transactions and airport passengers.

Boosted by strong consumer demand, the tourism industry has become a pillar of growth for the economy of the city.

-- BERNAMA

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