Chinanews.com, January 1 This winter, Harbin's ice and snow tourism exploded, not only becoming a "top stream" in China, but also attracting the attention of the world. Many foreign media have paid attention to Harbin's ice and snow wonders and tourism scene, and the economic growth it has driven, believing that the ice and snow economy has become a bright spot in China's economic recovery at a time when tourism has rebounded sharply in winter.

In the Songhua River Ice and Snow Carnival Park, a brightly colored hot air balloon has become a popular experience for tourists. Photo/Visual China

"Winter Wonderland"

An experience like no other

The UAE's "The National" said that if Aisha, the ice queen in the "Frozen" movie, came to Harbin Ice and Snow World, she would definitely be amazed. At Snow World, children can soar down long ice slides during the day, and at night, the colorful lights turn it into a "winter wonderland".

Turkey's Sabah Daily noted that the Harbin Ice and Snow World Park covers an area of 81,25 square meters and uses a total of <>,<> cubic meters of ice and snow to create more than <>,<> ice and snow landscapes, including Chinese-style ice sculptures and bridges, fairytale castles and towers, and even an ice sculpture modeled after Beijing's Temple of Heaven.

The U.S. news website BNN Breaking reported that Ice World has used state-of-the-art technology to create an unimaginable, stunning ice and snow art exhibition, with LED lights embedded in ice sculptures casting vibrant light in the sky on winter nights, bringing visitors a unique and fascinating experience.

The media mentioned that Ice World also offers a variety of activities and performances to ensure that people of all ages can enjoy this winter carnival. As a platform for cultural exchange, Ice and Snow World also brings together artists, performers and tourists from all over the world.

The British "Daily Mail", India's "Deccan Herald" and other media noted that Harbin attracted a record number of tourists and tourism revenue during the 2024 New Year's Day holiday - more than 300 million tourists visited Harbin, contributing nearly 60 billion yuan in tourism revenue. Heilongjiang province has received a total of 661.9 million tourists, and the tourism revenue is as high as 69.2 billion yuan.

Attentive and affectionate

"Ice and snow tourism" is booming

BNN Breaking News Network said that the Ice and Snow Festival, known for its magical ice and snow landscapes and sculptures, has become a major event for winter tourism around the world, attracting people from all over the world to Harbin, the city of ice and snow. Thanks to the government's joint efforts to attract tourists and provide attentive services, the Snow Festival has managed to impress tourists and make Harbin one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country.

The government's support and investment underscores the long-term vision of nurturing and expanding winter-related industries, fully in line with the broader goal of China's economic diversification and sustainable development, the outlet said. The growth trajectory of China's ice and snow industry shows a sharp upward trend.

BNN Breaking also reported that in Changchun, the capital of Jilin Province, cultural and creative products featuring intangible cultural heritage, folk customs, and time-honored brands have significantly enhanced the charm of the city. The seamless integration of the ice and snow economy with "Chinese style" elements enriches the tourism experience and boosts consumption. These products not only inherit traditional arts and customs, but also serve as a unique selling point, allowing visitors to "take home the culture they have experienced".

Singapore's "Lianhe Zaobao" commented that what made Harbin successfully popular all over the Internet was a series of friendly receptions of foreign tourists by the local people. For example, the Sophia Scenic Area in Harbin City has added a warm station for tourists on the square, so that tourists can keep warm when the weather is cold.

Hong Kong's South China Morning Post also noted a heartwarming story — with the recent surge in visitor arrivals in Harbin, many tourists are having trouble getting a taxi or hailing a ride. In response, local residents have organized a convoy of about 300 private cars to provide free rides to tourists. The newspaper commented that despite the cold weather in the city, residents were enthusiastic, creating a "warm and pleasant" environment for tourists.

From point to surface

China's economic recovery is now bright

Pakistan Today reported that this winter saw a buzz not only in Harbin, but also in other parts of China, including sunny Hainan and Xinjiang, where the number of tourists and tourism revenues grew strongly.

According to local data, during the New Year's Day, Xinjiang received more than 166.195 million tourists, a year-on-year increase of 17 percent, and received tourism income of about 6.424 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 3.60 percent. At the same time, the number of tourists and tourism revenue during the New Year's Day holiday in Hainan also increased by more than <>%.

According to the newspaper, experts said that the boom in tourism not only highlights the vitality and potential of China's consumer market, but also paves the way for an overall economic recovery in 2024.

Moreover, the boom in tourism means an increase in corporate business and activity in all sectors. For example, after the Harbin tourism boom, the business of many local companies has grown rapidly, and the share price of Changbaishan Tourism Co., Ltd. has recently soared by more than 51%.

Reuters said that the winter tourism rebounded sharply, becoming a bright spot in China's economic recovery. China's vigorous development of "ice and snow tourism", efforts to open more ski resorts, and tap the potential of local culture and traditions, will stimulate domestic demand, stimulate potential consumption, and form a virtuous circle in which consumption and investment promote each other. (ENDS)