First Encounter with the Ice City

As someone born and raised in southern China, I was deeply attracted to Harbin on my first visit. Imagine people bundled up in thick clothing in temperatures below -20°C, yet with happy smiles on their faces, eating popsicles while touring the Ice and Snow World - this adorable contrast made me chuckle.

The moment I stepped off the plane, the cold air hit me like a wall, as if I was instantly frozen. However, I quickly adapted to the temperature and even started to enjoy the crisp feeling. Red lanterns were everywhere on the streets, and the magnificent European-style buildings looked especially spectacular against the backdrop of pristine white snow. The Russian-style architecture on Central Street made me feel as if I had traveled to a foreign country, while the aroma wafting from small shops along the way tempted me to step inside for warmth.

The night view was even more amazing. When darkness fell, the entire city seemed enchanted, with colorful lights making the ice sculptures shimmer brilliantly, looking like a fairy tale world from afar. Standing by the Songhua River was particularly special, watching the thick ice on the river surface and people skating and playing ice games by the riverside - the joyful atmosphere made me want to join in.

Ice and Snow by the Numbers

In the 2024-2025 winter season, China's ice and snow economy is expected to exceed 1 trillion yuan. Behind this impressive number is countless tourists' love and pursuit of ice and snow tourism. In Harbin alone, hotel bookings increased by over 50% year-on-year, making rooms extremely hard to secure. The Ice and Snow World set new records, receiving 640,000 visitors in just 20 days, averaging over 30,000 visitors daily.

This popularity is no coincidence. In recent years, the ice and snow tourism industry has continuously upgraded and innovated, introducing increasingly interesting activities and experiences. From traditional ice lantern viewing to modern ice and snow theme parks, from simple skiing to diverse winter sports, the enriched product forms have made more people fall in love with ice and snow tourism.

Not only is the number of tourists growing, but the consumption structure is also continuously optimizing. More young people are willing to pay for quality ice and snow experiences, driving the development of related industries such as accommodation, dining, and shopping. Data shows that those born in the 1990s and 2000s have become the main force in ice and snow tourism, focusing more on quality and personalized travel experiences.

North-South Interaction

Ice and snow tourism has now broken geographical limitations to become a common choice for tourists nationwide. Visitors from southern cities like Shanghai, Hangzhou, Chengdu, Nanjing, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou make up a significant proportion. This north-south interaction is reflected not only in tourist composition but also in cultural integration.

The couple from Guangzhou I met while queuing had an interesting experience. The girl said she had only seen ice sculptures on TV before, and standing in the Ice and Snow World was completely different. The massive ice castle castles sparkled in the sunlight and were illuminated by colorful lights at night, creating breathtaking beauty. The boy was particularly interested in skiing, and despite falling several times, he still enjoyed it immensely.

Not just them, I also met a family of three from Chengdu. Their child was extremely excited seeing snow for the first time, rolling in the snow and building snowmen, completely ignoring the cold. They said they could only experience indoor ski resorts in Chengdu, and coming to a real winter wonderland was totally different.

Innovation in Activities

The innovations at Harbin Ice and Snow World are astounding. The entire park covers an area of 1 million square meters and uses 300,000 cubic meters of ice and snow in its construction, a truly impressive scale. More excitingly, they've introduced intelligent ice-making equipment developed by Harbin Institute of Technology, using multi-sensor data fusion and AI visual recognition technology to make ice sculpture creation more precise.

These high-tech applications bring entirely new experiences. For example, visitors can not only view the ice and snow castles up close but also see their "past lives" through AR technology, understanding the creation process of each ice sculpture. The night light show is particularly stunning, with tens of thousands of LED lights creating various brilliant light effects through an intelligent control system.

Interactive designs make the experience more fun. The park has set up multiple interactive zones where visitors can try ice bicycles, ice slides, ice bumper cars, and other novel activities. The super-large ice slide is especially thrilling, with an irresistible rush sliding down from the height. There's also a dedicated ice and snow photography area for taking unique social media-worthy photos.

Innovation is also reflected in services. The park has introduced an intelligent guide system where visitors can check waiting times and best viewing positions for various attractions through their phones. Smart heating facilities are also installed to keep visitors comfortable while enjoying the ice and snow scenery.

Route Planning

The 12 national ice and snow tourism premium routes launched for the 2024-2025 winter season cover numerous attractions from north to south and east to west. These routes are thoughtfully designed, considering both regional characteristics and different visitors' needs.

Taking the Northeast route as an example, starting from Harbin, you can first experience the exotic atmosphere of Central Street, taste authentic Old Daowai bread and Qiulin red sausage. Then visit Sun Island to admire the ice and snow art exhibition, and experience the magical Ice and Snow World at night. The next day, you can go to Yabuli to experience professional-grade ski slopes, with different difficulty levels meeting various skiers' needs. Finally, visit Snow Town to experience fairy-tale snow scenes, stay overnight in a characteristic snow house, and experience the most authentic Northeast folk customs.

The Xinjiang route has its unique characteristics, perfectly combining winter sports with ethnic culture. At Altay's ski resort, you can not only experience high-quality skiing but also enjoy unique snow folk performances. Kanas in winter presents another scene, with birch forests complementing the snow, and the frozen Lake Kanas like a huge mirror.

Ice and Snow City

Mudanjiang, known as the "Snow City," is absolutely a must-visit destination for ice and snow tourism. Its 15 premium tourism routes cover 8 major themes, perfectly combining natural landscapes, cultural experiences, and sports activities. From Mudanjiang, you can easily reach Harbin and Yabuli, forming a perfect golden triangle of ice and snow tourism.

Snow Town is one of Mudanjiang's most famous scenic areas. The snow here regularly reaches two meters deep, with thick snow piled on trees, roofs, and fences, forming unique "snow mushrooms." Snow Town at night is even more magical, with thousands of lights twinkling in the vast white snow, like being in a fairy tale. Staying in Snow Town's characteristic homestays, you can gather around the stove eating copper pot stew while listening to local Northeast folk stories.

Mudanjiang's Mirror Lake also has a special charm in winter. This largest volcanic barrier lake in Asia becomes clear as a mirror when frozen, allowing you to clearly see fish swimming under the ice. The famous Hanging Water Tower Waterfall here forms a huge "ice waterfall" when frozen in winter, creating a spectacular sight.

Southern Breakthrough

For southerners, experiencing winter sports is no longer difficult. Many southern provinces have now built professional indoor ski resorts, and while smaller than those in the north, the facilities are no less impressive. For example, Guangzhou Sunac Snow World not only has professional ski slopes but also snow parks and snow performances, allowing southerners to experience the joy of ice and snow anytime.

However, I strongly recommend experiencing real northern ice and snow at least once. The feeling of stepping on soft snow, breathing the fresh air at below -20°C, being surrounded by vast white snow - these are experiences indoor facilities cannot match. Especially outdoors in the Northeast, you can experience the most authentic ice and snow culture and genuine Northeast folk customs.

Personal Recommendations

As a southerner who has visited the Northeast several times, I have some practical advice to share. The best time to visit is January when all ice and snow activities are fully operational but before the crowded Spring Festival period. However, Northeast ice and snow tourism is increasingly popular, so it's recommended to book flights and hotels two to three months in advance, as prices may increase several times during peak periods.

Dressing for warmth is crucial. It's recommended to wear down jackets, fleece, thermal underwear, and don't forget hats, scarves, and gloves. Shoes should be non-slip snow boots, as regular sneakers are easily slippery. Also, remember to bring lip balm and face cream, as the Northeast's dry cold can be harsh on the skin.

Leave room in your itinerary. Winter days in the Northeast are short, with many attractions getting dark around 4-5 PM. It's recommended not to schedule too many attractions each day, giving yourself enough time to properly experience each place. Especially in places like Snow Town, it's recommended to stay at least one night to experience the most authentic Northeast rural life.

Future Prospects

With the successful hosting of the Winter Olympics, China's ice and snow tourism industry has unprecedented development opportunities. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism is actively promoting infrastructure improvement in various regions, encouraging the integration of local folk customs to create more distinctive ice and snow tourism products.

Future ice and snow tourism will focus more on technological innovation and cultural integration. For example, through VR/AR technology, tourists can learn more about ice and snow culture while experiencing winter sports. Intelligent service facilities will make tourism experiences more convenient and comfortable, while personalized custom services will meet different tourists' needs.

Predictably, as infrastructure continues to improve, the seasonal limitations of ice and snow tourism will gradually weaken. More indoor venues will be established in the south, bringing winter sports into ordinary people's lives. Meanwhile, northern ice and snow resources will be better developed and utilized, forming more unique tourism products.

This winter, are you ready for an ice and snow journey? Looking forward to meeting you in the Northeast's world of ice and snow!

Have you visited the ice and snow cities of Northeast China? Welcome to share your travel stories in the comments.