A news conference on the 2021 Heilongjiang winter ice and snow tourism season was held on Dec 28 to introduce the province's ice and snow events, especially in the run-up to the Beijing Winter Olympics Games to be held in February next year.
 
Harbin city – capital of China's northernmost Heilongjiang province and dubbed the Ice City – has taken its main cues from snow and ice tourism, culture and art, sports and fashion, as well as commerce and trade in its approach.
 
In doing so, it has launched four themed routes that take in ice and snow sightseeing, skiing vacations, parent-child activities and trips to hot springs.
 
To meet the needs of residents, the surface of the frozen Songhua River, the city's parks, playgrounds and other suitable places have been festooned with such things as free public ice rinks and have been equipped with a host of other fun facilities.
 
The 23rd Harbin Ice and Snow World,  the 34th China Harbin Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Art Expo, the 4th Songhua River Ice and Snow Carnival and the Yabuli Ski Resort are among the highlights of Harbin's winter tourism season that have now been opened to visitors.
 
At the Volga Manor – a national 4A-level cultural tourist attraction with Russian culture as the theme – isitors can experience the Petrov Palace Ski trail, as well as take in a sleigh train ride and a royal carriage, among other things.
 
Harbin Central Avenue will host a series of activities, including China's first "intangible cultural heritage" light show.
 
At the same time, Harbin will move its transport system into high gear, to smooth the way for incoming tourists. 
 
It's integrated the closing times of the three subway lines to coincide with those of the China Harbin Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Art Expo and Harbin Ice and Snow World.
 
The closing times of bus lines passing through key scenic spots have also been extended by one hour, moving up from 21:30 to 22:30.