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China unveils the world's largest ice city

China unveils the world's largest ice city

China's beautiful ice city is home to an annual ice and snow festival that brings in around 3 million tourists a year.

Despite the freezing winter weather in China, tourists aren't letting the cold keep them away.

Instead, they're visiting China's ice city, where everything is made of ice.

We're talking life-sized buildings, sculptures and even ice Ferris wheels that have all been carved. You can walk on ice steps and slide down ice slides, and see it beautifully lit up in the night - talk about a winter wonderland!

The city is located in China's northeastern province, Harbin, and it's home to the annual ice and snow festival - one that saw 3 million people visit over the 2024 New Year weekend.

China's ice city brough in 3 million tourists over the New Year weekend / Xinhua News Agency
China's ice city brough in 3 million tourists over the New Year weekend / Xinhua News Agency

But tourists who are interested in going must weather the cold China temperatures that drop as low as -35 degrees Celsius.

Despite the cold, some brave influencers are braving it for the sake of fashion. One influencer shared: 'I saw all kinds of publicity about Harbin on different media platforms, as well as this kind of publicity related to cultural tourism. So I wanted to check it out.'

Chinese State Media reported that the festival generated 6 billion yuan ($833 million) in tourism during the 2024 New Year three-day holiday. - thanks to both influencers and government initiatives who have contributed to Harbin's success.

Due to the icy chill, tourists have also taken up winter sports in the nearby ski resort.

Commenting on the increasing interest in winter sports, Jin Hong-lan, finance director of the Yabuli Ski Resort, pointed out: 'Because of the success of the Winter Olympics, winter sports have entered the lives of ordinary people.

More people are interested in winter sport since visiting the ice city / Xinhua News Agency
More people are interested in winter sport since visiting the ice city / Xinhua News Agency

'Especially Winter Olympics champions like Su Yiming and Eileen Gu, these young Winter Olympic champions have inspired people to love snow and ice. More people like to ski.'

Local vendors in the ice city have also welcomed the tourist boom, but some businesses are feeling increased competition. One business example is the make-up artists who support both the influencers and tourists.

A shopkeeper of Mao Mao Makeup, Guo Dafan, admitted: 'I think right now in the area around Saint Sophia Cathedral, other shops are also doing this business. There must be hundreds of them.'

The annual festival isn't short of activities for tourists either, it offers ice and snow sculpture competitions, winter fishing, winter sports, a parade, and five theme parks.

The YouTube video showcasing the beautiful icy paradise has got people writing it down on their bucket lists.

One comment read: 'Harbin is the most beautiful city in China,' and another said: 'Definitely top of the bucket list'.

Featured Image Credit: Xinhua News Agency