Park sets record

At the 2024 China Ice and Snow Tourism Development Forum held in Harbin on Friday, Harbin Ice and Snow World was recognized by Guinness World Records as the largest ice and snow park in the world, with an area of 816,682.5 square meters.

The park, which combines ice, snow, sound and lights, is in its 25th consecutive year of operation, and visitors can appreciate more than 1,000 artworks made from over 250,000 cubic meters of ice and snow.

They also enjoy a range of other activities, including a 521-meter ice slide, the longest built at the park to date. A giant Ferris wheel in the shape of a snowflake has also been set up to provide the experience of a dazzling landscape after dark.

Also on Friday, the 40th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival — the city's annual winter gala — opened at the park, welcoming visitors from around the world.

Liang Huiling, governor of Heilongjiang, said at the opening ceremony: "Heilongjiang has abundant ice and snow resources and is also the birthplace of China's modern ice and snow industry. The province is vigorously developing characteristic cultural tourism and carrying out a series of activities to promote the ice and snow economy.

"Since the start of the winter season, Harbin has received acclaim from home and abroad, which has helped accelerate the development of the entire province's snow and ice economy."

To attract more tourists and improve services, the authorities in Harbin have introduced a series of activities, including live performances on New Year's Eve, firework displays, theme parks, intangible cultural heritage shows, and concerts. Measures have also been taken to enhance the visitor experience in the city, covering sectors such as dining, accommodations, travel, shopping, and entertainment.

At the start of this year, the local government held a symposium aimed at improving service quality at hotels during the winter tourism season. It told hotel operators not to raise charges excessively, to avoid blindly adjusting charges, or to present false prices to customers. They were also told to provide high-quality services.

Officials said departments, including market supervision, culture and tourism, and public security, should further strengthen the supervision of hotel room rates, food safety, fire safety, social security, and service quality. They added that illegal acts that infringe on the legitimate rights and interests of tourists must be tackled firmly.

Delegates to the symposium from different hotels said that to comply with local government requirements, they have improved their services by extending breakfast hours, presenting local snacks to customers, increasing the number of lobby concierges, and providing souvenirs.

This month, more than 75 percent of the rooms have been reserved at Modern Hotel, which is located on Central Avenue, Harbin. Despite its name, the hotel boasts a history of over 100 years.

Liu Lingling, the hotel's general manager, said: "Reservations for the New Year holiday remained above 90 percent. We prepared hot ginger candy drinks, hot drinking water, a first aid box, and warm attire for our customers."

When night falls, residents and tourists can enjoy an evening of music on Central Avenue, as the hotel has launched a series of musical performances and dances on its second-floor balcony.

The transportation department has introduced measures to help tourists visit the city's main scenic spots.

For example, the Harbin Metro has extended its operating hours and issued free ferry tickets for use from the two stations on Sun Island to visit Ice and Snow World, which is hosting the 36th China Harbin Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Art Expo and the 25th Harbin Ice and Snow World.