Harbin, Heilongjiang province, a hot tourism destination since winter, welcomed around 10.1 million visitors during the eight-day Spring Festival holiday, a year-on-year increase of 81.7 percent. It was a record high, according to the city's bureau of culture, broadcasting, TV and tourism. Total tourism revenue reached 16.42 billion yuan ($2.28 billion), a year-on-year increase of 235.4 percent. Both numbers were records for Harbin during the holiday period. According to Harbin Taiping International Airport, 4,107 flights landed or took off during the period, with a throughput of 676,000 passenger trips, ranking the first among the four major airports in the Northeast China region. Among the city's scenic spots, Harbin Ice and Snow World ranked as the most popular. It concluded its winter operating season on Friday. The park, which combines ice, snow, sound and lights, is in its 25th consecutive year. Visitors can appreciate more than 1,000 artworks made from more than 250,000 cubic meters of ice and snow. During its 61 operating days this season, the venue received 2.71 million visitors and showcased the unique charm of its ice and snow fairytale world to tourists from home and abroad. As temperatures begin to rise, the ice and snow figures in the park must be dismantled to prevent unsafe collapses. It usually takes around 20 days to finish the work using both manual and mechanical methods. The large ice sculptures are taken down and broken up by excavators. When the ice begins to melt, workers will clean the remaining debris. |
Stranded livestock land in Australia after Red Sea turnClimate activists demand Christchurch include cruise ship emissions in targetsHong Kong denies entry to campaigner en route to Jimmy Lai trial — Radio Free AsiaChilean vet helps dogs, cats and rabbits injured in wildfiresScrapping NZ battery project 'shortSevere heatwave in eastern Australia to bring hottest weather in four years to NSWIn China, a factory is turning old wedding photographs into fuelConnings Food Market to take over Nelson site deemed not financially viable for affordable housingPrime Minister Christopher Luxon corrects himself on Gaza statementTe reo Māori: Govt seeks to halt extra pay for public servants fluent in the language