Harbin, capital of China's northernmost province of Heilongjiang, promoted its ice and snow brand at the 2022 Boao Forum for Entrepreneurs, which took place in Boao, South China's Hainan province from Nov 25-28.
 
Harbin impressed attendees with its unique ice and snow culture and economy.
 
According to the data released by Chinese online travel providers Fliggy Travel and Ctrip, the sales of ski tours, ice and snow tours, and other related products during this year's "Double 11" shopping festival increased by 32 percent year-on-year, and bookings of ski-themed tour products increased by more than 350 percent.
 
The statistics show that the ice and snow economy is becoming increasingly important in China in the new era.
 
Harbin is endowed with unique ice and snow resources. Harbin has enjoyed a strong ice and snow culture for 60 years now, and was the first Chinese city to integrate ice and snow into culture and art.
 
Harbin has ranked first in the list of "China's Top 10 Cities for Ice and Snow Tourism" for five consecutive years, and has been included in the list of the "Top 10 Most Desirable Chinese Cities Among Global Tourists".
 
During the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, Harbin athletes Ren Ziwei, Zhang Yuting, Sui Wenjing, and Han Cong won a total of three gold medals. Harbin was then awarded the commemorative "City of Olympic Champions" trophy by the Chinese Olympic Committee on Nov 10.
 
Harbin has gradually established an ice and snow economic system with a rich cultural heritage, diverse customs and experiences, a complete consumption chain and an advantageous market.
 
The city is famous for its rich ice and snow activities, such as the Zhaolin Park Ice Lantern Art Fair, Harbin Ice and Snow World, China Harbin Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Art Expo and Songhua River Ice and Snow Carnival.
 
From late November to mid-April next year, Harbin plans to hold around 100 activities involving tourism, sports, culture, exhibitions, trade, commerce and competitions related to ice and snow.
 
Among them is the Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival. Growing out of the Ice Lantern Show in 1985, the Harbin festival has become one of the world's four largest ice and snow festivals, along with the Sapporo Snow Festival in Japan, Quebec Winter Carnival in Canada and Norway's Ski Festival.