Students from Hong Kong pose for photos in front of an ice sculpture in Harbin, capital of Northeast China’s Heilongjiang province, on Dec 29, 2015. [Photo/my399.com]

More than 800 students from Hong Kong arrived at Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang province, to experience the ice and snow tour in Northeast China on Dec 27.

The students were divided into 18 groups, with each group having its own guide and doctor. George Lung Chee-ming, president of the Hong Kong Youth Exchange Promotion United Association; Kenneth Fok, president of the Hong Kong United Youth Association; Leung Wang-ching, president of the Y. Elites Association Limited; and Karthik Rao, executive president of the Hua Jing Society, joined the groups to guide students during the trip.

"The enrollment soon finished as we had only 800 seats. Most of the applicants are college students while some of them were middle school students," said Rock Chen Chung-nin, head of the trip.

Hong Kong is 3,649 kilometers away from Harbin, roughly the distance from London to Turkey.

"The ride took us some 20 hours but none of us felt tired. Instead, we were slightly excited. We were quite comfortable with the high-speed train. The land covered in green soon became snow-covered, like something in fairy tales," said Zhang Mengyuan from the Hong Kong University of Technology.

Guan Yongxin, a freshman at Hang Seng Management College visiting Harbin for the first time like the majority students on the trip, said: “Harbin has splendid ice and snow sculptures and beautiful European-style buildings. People in Harbin are especially friendly and polite. When I asked a staff member at the shopping mall to show me the way to the rest room, she walked along with me there.”

Students visited tourist attractions including the Ice and Snow World, the Snow Sculpture Art Expo, the Central Street and St Sophia Church. They also visited the Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin Electric Machinery Company and the Unit 731 Museum.

Students became silent at the Unit 731 Museum. A student named Wang Zhenni said that she knew something about the Nanjing Massacre and experienced sadness after visiting the museum. She added that every Chinese should remember that part of history.

"In addition to the happy journey, we also hope students can learn more about the Chinese mainland and our history. The trip to the Unit 731 Museum is not designed to ignite hatred but help them understand the importance of a powerful China," said Chen.