Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
Beijing, November 5 (Xinhua) — This winter, Harbin will offer visitors and winter tourism enthusiasts a "new surprise" – three flagship ice and snow scenic spots, each covering over one million square meters, await them. This was announced at a media briefing held Tuesday by the Heilongjiang Provincial People's Government Information Office.
According to Wang Hongxin, Director of the Harbin City Administration of Culture, Broadcasting, and Tourism, in response to a query from chinanews.com.cn, this primarily concerns the renowned "Great World of Ice and Snow" in Harbin, one of the world's largest ice and snow theme parks. This year, its park area will expand from 1 million to 1.2 million square meters, featuring more modern technology, creative projects for children, structures in exotic architectural styles, iconic decorative installations, and amusement rides.
The second flagship attraction is the International Snow Sculpture Art Fair on Taiyangdao Island (Sun Island), whose history dates back to 1988. By the winter season, its space is planned to expand to 1.5 million square meters, and the total volume of snow used will reach 120,000 cubic meters. Here, visitors will not only be able to admire more than 260 stunning snow sculptures but also admire giant pandas playing in the snow, wandering penguins, and the "kings of the forest" tigers. According to the tourism zone's management, this will create an atmosphere of harmonious coexistence between man and nature.
Another ideal area for winter sports enthusiasts will be the Songhua River Ice and Snow Carnival, which has been expanded to cover 1.45 million square meters. More than 60 recreational activities will be available on the vast frozen river surface, including snow drifting, snow carting, hovercraft, and snowmobiling. Giant snowmen will also grace both banks.
In addition, this winter, more than 20 ski slopes will open throughout the city, and the associated tourist infrastructure will be modernized.
It's worth noting that Harbin is traditionally very popular with Russian tourists in winter. According to statistics, Harbin is expected to welcome 135 million tourists in the 2024-2025 winter season, including approximately 6.3 percent foreign tourists, a significant proportion of whom were from Russia. Industry experts predict that this winter, thanks to China's visa-free regime for Russian citizens, introduced in September, Harbin will welcome even more tourists from that country.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.