The city of Harbin, Heilongjiang province, known for its bitingly cold winters, is getting ready to host an international expo on frigid-region resources and economic growth, Jan 5 – 11, of the coming year, with sponsorship from the municipal government.

The activity will center on China’s Silk Road Economic Belt to increase opening-up and interaction with foreign cities in frigid zones and with more than 800 Chinese and foreign enterprises expected to take part.

The main venue will be Harbin’s International Conference Exhibition and Sports Center, with a 36,000-square-meter area and 1,200 international standard booths, while exhibition Hall A, which will be open to the public, will have winter clothing and accessories, sporting goods, winter tourism products, green foods, and time-honored brands, running Jan 5-11.

There will be special exhibitions in Halls B and C for businesspeople only, with industrial technology and equipment, for ice-removal, sanitation in winter, and new heating technology, running Jan 5-7.

And there will be activities, including a summit on frigid-city development, a seminar on ice-removal equipment and technology, and investment promotions and the organizers say they will have two smaller venues at China South City and Haining Leather City, with two special marketplaces.