China Mobile’s Heilongjiang provincial branch reports that, for the first month of 2016, there was a 32-percent increase over the previous month in the number of visitors to Harbin, the provincial capital, using the company’s roaming services, and a 17-percent increase year-on-year, with visitors from Hong Kong accounting for 3 percent, those from Macao, 1 percent and those from Taiwan, 7 percent of all overseas tourists.

Tourists visit the shimmering ice sculptures at this year’s Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival. [Photo/Xinhua]

The visitors from Russia, South Korea and Japan accounted for more than 62 percent, all of which suggest that the city of Harbin was the most popular destination in the province, with about 80 percent of the Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan travelers choosing Harbin as one of their destinations in their Heilongjiang tour.

In addition, since 50 percent of visitors from outside Heilongjiang traveled to Harbin in January, it indicates that the ice and snow festival has grown stature both in China and abroad. The most popular places for domestic tourists were Central Avenue, Harbin Happy Valley, Ice and Snow World, St Sofia Church, Yabuli Ski Resort, China’s Snow Town, Sun Island, and Harbin Polar Land.