Cambodian artist Choury Laorhours performs the Aspara dance at the Harbin Ice and Snow World in Northeast China’s Heilongjiang province, on Jan 5, 2025. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
The frigid -20 temperature in Harbin, Northeast China's Heilongjiang province on Sunday afternoon did little to deter tourists from boiling with excitement and marvel at the Harbin Ice and Snow World.
Glittering in her stunning golden costume, Cambodian dancer Choury Laorhours braved the bitterly cold weather to stage the Aspara dance, one of the traditional dances of the Royal Ballet of Cambodia repertoire, in front of the ice sculpture of the famed Bayon Temple of Cambodia.
Tourists at the Harbin Ice and Snow World are enchanted by Cambodian artist Choury Laorhours’ performance of the Aspara dance on Jan 5, 2025. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Her grace and grit on the ice wowed audiences both online and offline.
As of the publication of this article, the three-minute video of her performance on her Facebook account had attracted 5.23 million views and more than 430,000 likes.
Among the some 20,000 comments under the video, Cambodian netizens showered her with praise and appreciation, with many calling her "the pride of Cambodia."
Cambodian artist Choury Laorhours performs the Aspara dance at the Harbin Ice and Snow World in Northeast China’s Heilongjiang province, on Jan 5, 2025. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
The Cambodian artist told China Daily website that she had rehearsed on the frozen Songhua River on Saturday to ensure a successful performance.
"It's really cold here for me to do the Aspara dance, but I am happy to present my culture to Chinese people," she said.
Cambodian artist Choury Laorhours rehearses the Aspara dance on the frozen Songhua River in Harbin, Northeast China’s Heilongjiang province, on Jan 4, 2025. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
"When the cold penetrates the brain and heart, the body begins to lose consciousness, and the eyes become blurry and unable to see what is around them. The encouragement from the Cambodian people helps me to persevere," Laorhours said on her Facebook post.
Cambodian artist Choury Laorhours performs the Aspara dance at the Harbin Ice and Snow World in Northeast China’s Heilongjiang province, on Jan 5, 2025. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Laorhours, winner of the Miss Preteen Junior Idol World 2024, was appointed by the Heilongjiang tourism authority as the province's overseas tourism ambassador during the opening ceremony of "Nihao! China"—The China Ice and Snow Tourism Overseas Promotion Season 2025, held in Harbin on Jan 5.
Cambodian artist Choury Laorhours performs the Aspara dance at the Harbin Ice and Snow World in Northeast China’s Heilongjiang province, on Jan 5, 2025. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Cambodian artist Choury Laorhours rehearses the Aspara dance on the frozen Songhua River in Harbin, Northeast China’s Heilongjiang province, on Jan 4, 2025. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Screenshots of Facebook comments on Cambodian artist Choury Laorhours’ account. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Cambodian artist Choury Laorhours performs the Aspara dance at the Harbin Ice and Snow World in Northeast China’s Heilongjiang province, on Jan 5, 2025. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Cambodian artist Choury Laorhours performs the Aspara dance at the Harbin Ice and Snow World in Northeast China’s Heilongjiang province, on Jan 5, 2025. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
