Tourists take photos in front of the snow sculpture of Nini, one of the two mascots of the Asian Winter Games, in Harbin, Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on December 27, 2024. Photo: VCG
In less than 30 days, the 9th Asian Winter Games will open in Harbin, Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. With its rich ice and snow resources, and a diverse array of winter activities, Harbin, as one of China's top winter travel destinations, is once again attracting global attention. The main tower at Harbin Ice-Snow World Photo: VCG
The Harbin Ice-Snow World, the world's largest ice-and-snow theme park, is one of the most popular tourist hotspots in Harbin.
With an overall park area of nearly 1 million square meters and a total usage of 300,000 cubic meters of ice and snow, when the park officially opened to public on December 21, 2024, some visitors even began lining up in the cold, as early as 3 am, eagerly awaiting the opening to experience the fun and charm of this winter wonderland.
As the Heilongjiang Daily reported, the park will also be a sub-venue for the Asian Winter Games opening ceremony this year. "Dream of Winter, Love among Asia," is not only the theme slogan of the 9th Asian Winter Games, but also the theme of the Ice-Snow World this year.
"We're very proud to have Harbin host this year's Asian Winter Games. The benefits are multidimensional. It is a great opportunity to showcase the city's ice and snow culture, art, as well as upgrade related snow and ice infrastructure, and boost winter tourism," Cong Peiyu, director of the Design and Research & Development Department of the Harbin Ice-Snow World, told the Global Times.
Cong noted that with the growing popularity of Harbin's ice and snow tourism, visitors have heightened expectations for its ice and snow artistry. Partnering up with universities and research institutes across the country, the park had obtained 40 patents at the national level as of Thursday.
As the sub-venue for the Games' opening ceremony, the park holds a lot of surprises for the visitors as they will discover various elements of the Games during their journey at the park.
At the east entrance of the park, there is an ice-crafted countdown display that has attracted many visitors who photograph it. The snow sculptures of Binbin and Nini, mascots of the Games, a pair of cute Siberian tigers, greet visitors with the centrally placed slogan of the Games.
The largest single structure in the park, the main tower, is designed and built through inspiration from the emblem of the Olympic Council of Asia. In addition, visitors can also see iconic landmarks from the 45 member countries and regions of the Council.
On Saturday, the 36th China Harbin International Ice Sculpture Competition concluded at the park. A total of 30 teams from 12 countries and regions participated in the competition.
Timeless heritage
Harbin hosted its first ice lantern exhibition in 1963, earning its reputation as the birthplace of Chinese ice lantern art. Over the decades, this art form has brought joy and warmth to people's winters.
The 51st Harbin ice lantern fair kicked off in Zhaolin Park of Harbin on December 30, 2024. In addition to revisiting the origins of ice lanterns and iconic works from previous fairs through ice sculptures, the fair also has a section dedicated to the Games. At the same time, visitors can have the opportunity to appreciate the artwork from professional ice sculpture, university, and youth competitions. Domestic and international participants have transformed every block of ice into a work of art, representing a blend of creativity and cultural expression.
Cong noted that ice and snow sculptures, though ephemeral works of art, embody a timeless artistic spirit.
"Ice and snow activities have always been integral to the lives of Harbin's people. With the growing popularity of ice and snow tourism and sports, I believe that ice and snow art will not only endure but also continue to evolve with the times," he said.
Zhang Yi, CEO of the iiMedia Research Institute, considers Harbin to be his second hometown. Having graduated from Harbin Institute of Technology, he spent four years studying and living in the city back in his college days.
"The Asian Winter Games represents a tremendous opportunity for the city. Riding the wave of 2024's booming ice and snow tourism, this event will elevate Harbin's tourism and ice and snow economy to a higher level. It will also significantly enhance the city's overall image, service standards, and the development of ice and snow tourism, taking it to new heights. This is absolutely crucial," Zhang told the Global Times.
As Harbin gets ready to host the 9th Asian Winter Games, the city is showcasing its unique mix of culture, creativity, and collaboration. From its beginnings as the birthplace of ice lantern art to becoming a top winter tourism destination, Harbin continues to attract and inspire visitors from around the globe. With its stunning ice and snow attractions and hospitality, Harbin is not only celebrating its history but is also looking ahead to a bright future.
