Braving the biting cold, tourists are flocking to the snow-covered St. Sophia Cathedral, a century-old Byzantine building in Harbin, the capital of northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province. Many stop to pose for photos.
Harbin, often called the “Ice City,” has become one of China’s most popular winter travel destinations, drawing visitors worldwide. This year, it has seen a new wave of international tourists, with travelers eager to experience the city’s historical and winter wonders.
For Nadia Jovita Injilia Riso, an Indonesian tourist, visiting the St. Sophia Cathedral was like a long-cherished dream coming true. She said it was amazing to see such a beautiful Western-style building in China, with people dressed as princes and princesses, which felt like traveling through a time tunnel.
Strolling along Central Street, Harbin’s landmark pedestrian area, Riso enjoyed the melodies of a harpist playing from a balcony. She also took the opportunity to savor the local ice cream.
“Harbin is famous for its winter tourism and ice sports, but my trip here has been full of unexpected surprises. The melodies, the food and the welcoming locals have left an unforgettable impression,” she said.
Riso noted that she has already visited the indoor ice-and-snow facility of the Harbin Ice-Snow World, one of China’s most iconic winter attractions, and would like to try the outdoor Super Ice Slide. “This is a very interesting place because you can make big ice sculptures into interesting things.”
Last winter, the Harbin Ice-Snow World skyrocketed in popularity on Chinese social media, capturing China’s growing passion for winter sports and tourism.
It has once again gained massive attraction this winter. This year’s edition of the Harbin Ice-Snow World, the world’s largest ice-and-snow theme park, received 62,000 visitors on the first day of opening.
“Everything is a great experience because Indonesia is a tropical country and we don’t have snow,” Riso said, adding that the Harbin Ice-Snow World is on a friend’s wish list, and she will recommend it to her and other friends.
For Moo Swee Ming, a member of a 16-person tour group from Malaysia, the ice and snow attractions are a must-see.
“For first-time visitors here, it’s a must to experience the icy world of snow and ice. It’s a rare opportunity,” said Moo, adding that the ice and snow tourism of Heilongjiang, China, attracts them most are the “Snow Town” in the city of Mudanjiang and the ice sculptures on Central Street and the Harbin Ice-Snow World in Harbin.
With its unique charm, Harbin has already seen growing popularity among “China Travel” goers.
According to the Harbin immigration inspection station, as of Dec. 19, Harbin Taiping International Airport had handled 136,000 inbound and outbound foreign tourists this year, an increase of 181 percent from the previous year.
With the implementation of China’s 240-hour visa-free transit policy and the upcoming 2025 Harbin Asian Winter Games, the city is poised to attract even more international tourists this winter.
Wang Hongxin, director of Harbin’s culture, radio, television and tourism department in China, said the city is working to enhance the overall tourist experience by improving dining, accommodation, transportation, shopping and entertainment through the latest technologies.
Harbin is creating a series of new attractions and landmarks, offering global tourists a feast of ice-and-snow tourism, Wang added.
