Sixteen kilometers from downtown Harbin, Heilongjiang province, Volga Manor has replicas of more than 40 classic Russian-style buildings. ZHAO TIANHUA/FOR CHINA DAILY
Although Harbin, the capital city of Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, is now witnessing its coldest season, the city known for its ice and snow has become a hot tourist destination this winter, attracting countless visitors from across the country and abroad.
Tourists are enjoying the scenery, experiencing the local folklore, watching shows and feeling the charm of the colorful wintry feast.
Since Dec 17, the National Immigration Administration has relaxed and optimized the visa-free transit policy, extending the stay of transiting foreigners in Harbin from 72 hours to 10 days.
Harbin Polarpark has a penguin parade, featuring 20 rare Antarctic penguins at its square. PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY
This policy provides more options for tourism and trade in Harbin, especially during the Asian Winter Games and the city's peak tourism season.
On Jan 5, at the 2025 Ice and Snow Tourism Development Forum, the China Tourism Academy released the annual Harbin Ice and Snow Tourism Development Report, which summarizes the content and characteristics of, and offers suggestions for the city's tourism model.
According to the report, during the ice and snow season from November 2023 to February 2024, Harbin received more than 87 million visits — an increase of 300 percent over the previous year — and achieved tourism revenue of 124.8 billion yuan ($17.1 billion), a staggering 500-percent increase.
The report also emphasizes that Harbin should strengthen global cooperation in ice and snow tourism, with the goal of establishing the city as a preferred destination for international visitors.
Before the 9th Asian Winter Games kicked off, taxi drivers had begun learning English to better serve international guests and, in anticipation of visitors' needs, the city has increased its efforts to provide more heated spaces.
Tourists enjoy riding quad bikes at the 7th Harbin Songhua River Ice and Snow Carnival 2025. PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY
Meanwhile, Harbin Polarpark debuted its penguin parade in late December, featuring 20 rare Antarctic penguins at its square.
Visitors can watch the daily parade for free, as well as new beluga whale and dolphin shows.
According to a tourist from Hunan province, "the excitement of watching the penguin parade made me feel my whole trip to Harbin was worthwhile."
Experts said the authorities in Harbin, and throughout Heilongjiang, need to seriously consider ways to promote the long-term sustainable development of ice and snow tourism.
Tourists can enjoy a snow slide at Volga Manor. ZHAO TIANHUA/FOR CHINA DAILY
Wang Lili, a researcher at the Heilongjiang Provincial Academy of Social Sciences and director of its regional economic research office, said: "Heilongjiang should advance its ice and snow culture, and constantly promote its creative transformation and innovative development. The province can transform the natural advantages of ice and snow into economic development."
It can also improve its smart tourism service platform and digitalize services to help launch personalized tourism consumption models for different consumer groups, she said.
"The culture and tourism department can integrate resources across the province, such as snowfields, forests, wetlands and hot springs to plan different tourism routes. The improved supply of tourism products will provide visitors with a variety of choices and extend the length of their stay in the province."
Contact the writers at zhouhuiying@chinadaily.com.cn
