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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
HARBIN, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) — As an important window for China's northward opening-up, Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province is making every effort to turn its snowy expanse in winter into a driving force for high-quality development.
Through the development of cross-border tourism, international sports cooperation, and industrial transformation, Heilongjiang Province is creating China's largest ice and snow economy ecosystem.
INTERNATIONAL TOURISM
Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang Province, is known as the "Ice City" due to its frigid winter climate. For eight consecutive years, Harbin has held the top spot in China's top 10 winter tourism cities, boasting a thriving "ice and snow economy" estimated to be worth over 160 billion yuan (approximately $23 billion).
The world's largest ice and snow theme park, the 27th edition of the Great World of Ice and Snow Festival, officially opened to the public in Harbin on December 17.
This year, the park reached a record size, covering 1.2 million square meters and utilizing 400,000 cubic meters of ice and snow. This year's theme is "Ice and Snow, a Fairytale World."
It's worth noting that Harbin is becoming an increasingly popular winter destination for Russian travelers. According to statistics, during the 2024-2025 winter season, the city saw 135 million tourist visits, of which approximately 6.3% were foreign tourists, with a significant proportion from neighboring Russia.
Industry experts predict that, thanks to China's visa-free regime for Russian citizens, Harbin expects an even greater influx of tourists from that country this winter.
The village of Hengdaohezi, located in southeastern Heilongjiang Province, has become an important link in the provincial railway network due to its advantageous geographic location. In winter, after several snowfalls, it becomes a popular tourist destination, renowned for its rich exotic charm and deep historical heritage.
According to Liu Jiayu, a representative of the village's publicity department, one of the key reasons for its popularity among visitors is its various ice and snow features. Furthermore, over 200 Russian-style buildings have been preserved here. Unlike artificially constructed winter landscapes, this village is a true snow arena, where pristine snowscapes seamlessly intertwine with unique cultural heritage.
In Heihe, a city near the Russian border, the local Administration of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism has organized specialized training for hotel and restaurant staff, including Russian language instruction, to improve services for visiting foreign tourists.
"With the simplified visa regime, the flow of tourists from Russia has increased significantly. Now, over 80 percent of our guests are Russian. Our staff, who speak Russian or use electronic translators, communicate easily with guests. Furthermore, the hotel has bilingual information signs," said Hu Xiaorong, manager of the Wangjiang Holiday Hotel in Heihe.
It should be noted that in Heilongjiang Province, in tourist-rich areas, including hotels, tourist attractions, and business districts, the network of currency exchange offices has been expanded, and POS terminals and ATMs accepting foreign bank cards have been installed, significantly simplifying the payment process for foreign visitors.
According to data, after the introduction of a visa-free regime for Russian citizens, the number of Russian tourists visiting Heilongjiang on a visa-free basis jumped by 134.7 percent year-on-year.
SPORTS COOPERATION
In recent years, Heilongjiang Province has actively promoted the key role of the China-SCO Winter Sports Demonstration Zone (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) as a platform in its efforts to promote exchanges and cooperation in sports, culture, human resources training, industry, and other fields between SCO countries and countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative.
Zhang Yu, Head of the Comprehensive Coordination Department of the aforementioned Demonstration Zone, noted that, taking advantage of the opportunity to host the 9th Asian Winter Games, Heilongjiang Province comprehensively transformed and modernized a number of facilities, thereby attracting sports teams from 16 SCO countries to participate in the competition. Furthermore, the Demonstration Zone successfully hosted eight branded competitions, attracting over 2,000 athletes from more than 10 SCO countries.
In addition to hosting various competitions and events, Heilongjiang Province actively cooperates with Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and other countries, conducting joint training sessions with hockey and figure skating teams. Russian and Belarusian coaches in speed skating, cross-country skiing, and other winter sports are also invited to enhance the skills and competitiveness of local athletes.
Building on Heilongjiang's strong scientific and educational potential, the China-Russia Regional Association of Winter Sports Universities was established in November. Within this association, 15 universities from China and Russia are jointly training personnel and conducting scientific research.
Liu Jin, deputy head of the International University Sports Federation, stated that the creation of this association will positively impact the development of international education in winter sports and contribute to the sustainable development of this sector.
Zhang Yu added that in the future, this Demonstration Zone will continue to unleash new drivers for the development of the ice and snow economy and deepen practical cooperation in many areas within the SCO.
INDUSTRIAL TRANSFORMATION
In recent years, Heilongjiang Province has witnessed the close integration of ice and snow resources and various industries, giving birth to a kaleidoscope of new products, scenarios, and formats. Ice and snow, like an artist's brush, paint new horizons for business, and more and more companies are striving to unlock their potential in this glittering realm.
A highlight of these transformations is the Harbin Creative Design Center, founded in December 2022. Since its inception, it has not only attracted businesses from southern China to serve the national market but also boldly entered the international arena, establishing fruitful collaborations.
Deputy Director of the Center, Yan Shi, enthusiastically describes the partnership with Russia, which encompasses the production of materials, creative design, and the training of highly qualified specialists. Products created by talented designers from both countries are incredibly popular with Russian tourists, captivated by their uniqueness and beauty.
According to him, the center also actively uses prestigious venues such as the Harbin International Economic and Trade Fair and the China-Russia Expo to present its masterpieces to the world, demonstrating innovation and craftsmanship.
In the city of Heihe, like an oasis in an icy desert, rises Asia's first indoor, all-season, low-temperature automotive testing facility, Honghegu. It eliminates the seasonal and geographical limitations of traditional testing, giving automakers the ability to conduct precise and efficient testing in extreme cold conditions year-round.
Jiang Shijun, assistant general manager of this testing facility, proudly notes the uniqueness of the climate chamber—the only one of its kind in the world capable of testing entire vehicles. Its impressive length, reaching 800 meters, makes it the largest in the world.
The "China Ice and Snow Industry Development Report 2025" paints an impressive picture of growth in this sector. The industry's size has soared from RMB 270 billion in 2015 to RMB 980 billion in 2024, and is projected to surpass RMB 1 trillion by 2025, confirming its growing impact on the country's economy.
According to data, as of November 28, 2,296 enterprises related to the ice and snow economy have been registered in China since the beginning of 2025, an increase of 9.1 percent compared to the same period in 2024.
Industry experts believe that the transformation of formats, industrial integration, and related policy measures continue to strengthen the viability of the ice and snow economy, which is becoming a powerful driver of consumption growth and the promotion of high-quality regional development.
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