China News Service, Jilin, March 16th: Visit China’s first indoor rime laboratory to enjoy the meteorological wonders in all seasons
China News Service reporter Shi Hongyu
Pushing open the heavy metal door, it was winter again.
At minus 6 degrees Celsius indoors, the willow trees are covered with ice crystals, and the lush rime is like a fairy tale.
The reporter visited China’s first indoor rime laboratory on the 15th and revealed how the wonders of rime can be enjoyed in all seasons.
Jilin Beishan Four Seasons Cross-Country Ski Resort, where Rime Laboratory is located, is the largest single indoor cross-country ski resort in Asia.
According to the staff, the indoor temperature remains below 0 degrees Celsius all year round, and "winter occurs all year round", which provides favorable conditions for cultivating rime.
Rime Laboratory moved Rime indoors.
Photo by Cang Yan
In March, the ice and snow in Jilin City almost melted, and the daily temperature was above 0 degrees Celsius.
But before entering the laboratory, you must change into a down jacket in advance.
When you open the door, cold air rushes into your face, and your feet make a "squeaking" sound on the snow.
The laboratory covers an area of 470 square meters, with dozens of willow trees and pine trees on both sides of the circular walkway.
As the fog rises, ice crystals continue to condense on tree trunks and branches, and they continue to "wither".
Jilin rime, one of China's four major meteorological wonders, is famous at home and abroad.
Every winter, the local area attracts a large number of Chinese and foreign tourists for sightseeing.
However, the occurrence of rime in Jilin is rare, and must be formed under the combined action of a certain wind direction, temperature, and air pressure.
The Rime Laboratory has moved the rime indoors, allowing this natural wonder to be enjoyed all year round.
Tourists enjoy the rime indoors.
Photo by Cang Yan
Pang Peilin, director of the Business Science and Technology Department of the Jilin Meteorological Bureau, said that through a large number of observations, the local area has mastered data such as the temperature, pressure, humidity, wind and droplet diameter that form rime outdoors, and successfully formed rime after simulating it in an indoor environment.
In terms of fluffiness and senses, indoor rime is exactly the same as outdoor rime.
The laboratory will be maintained at minus 6 degrees Celsius all year round, which is also the optimal temperature for indoor rime formation.
The reporter saw that the ice crystal particles condensed indoors were larger and more like crystals.
Pang Peilin said that the thickness of the ice crystals reached the standard of five-star rime.
"Five-star rime" appears indoors, attracting tourists to stay.
Photo by Cang Yan
In Pang Peilin’s view, indoor rime also has an “immersive experience.”
He pointed to the spray outlet and told reporters that the conditions for indoor rime formation are also relatively harsh. To create a five-star rime, fog machines and other equipment need to continue working for a day.
As the number of tourists increases, the temperature and humidity will also change, and the rime will wither.
A "hot spring" set up inside the laboratory is breathing water mist, and the "fairy air" attracts many tourists to touch it.
Xie Linshan, a tourist from Fujian, wore a bright down jacket and stood under a willow branch to take photos.
"We are spending the snow season in the spring in Northeast China," she said bluntly that the rime was magical and asked the on-site staff whether the ice crystals could be preserved.
Xu Hongbo, director of the operations department of the Jilin Beishan Four Seasons Cross-Country Ski Resort, believes that in a sense, it not only extends the snow season, but also continues the popularity of the "Northeast Ice and Snow Tourism Season."
At most, it received more than 3,000 tourists a day.
The arrival of guests from home and abroad is making "Jilin Rime" "out of the circle" in spring.
Jilin City officials also hope to continue to take over the popularity of the ice and snow tourism season, so that the rime can be enjoyed throughout the four seasons to continue to attract traffic and boost the development of the local four-season tourism industry.
(over)