The 19th Yabuli Skiing Festival kicked off on Nov 27 at the Yabuli Ski Resort -- one of China's largest ski resorts -- located in Harbin, capital city of China's northernmost Heilongjiang province.

The festival will last around 170 days, running through until next April.

This year's skiing festival will reportedly feature more convenient facilities, improved skiing services and a richer variety of activities.
 
Activities and events themed on the 2022 Winter Olympics will be highlights of the festival, with the games scheduled to take place in China next February.
   
At the festival, tailored services and items for tourists at different ages will also be launched to improve their skiing experience.
 
The Yabuli Ski Resort Area comprises several large ski resorts situated around three mountains -- Daguokui Mountain, Erguokui Mountain and Sanguokui Mountain -- all of which reach an elevation of more than 1,000 meters.

The resort zone is 25 kilometers southeast of Yabuli town, in Shangzhi, a county-level city administered by Harbin.

The Yabuli Sunshine Resort -- the ski resort affiliated with the Heilongjiang Provincial Sports Bureau and Yaxue Tourism Group Co Ski Resort -- is widely seen as the most popular of such facilities in the area.