On the morning of December 7th, the Fourth Harbin Ice Harvest Festival opened with great fanfare by the Songhua River.

The Fourth Harbin Ice Harvest Festival opens in Harbin on Dec. 7, 2023. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

This year's festival, themed "Harvesting the First Ice and Welcoming the Asian Winter Games," combined the rich history of ice harvesting culture in the Songhua River basin with ice and snow sports and elements of the Asian Winter Games. 

This fusion aims to make Harbin's ice and snow culture shine even brighter. With fluttering flags and resounding drums, the "Bingbatou," who represented the first ice harvester and donned traditional attire, took the stage to recite prayers, expressing gratitude for the gifts of nature and wishing for peace and abundance in the four seasons.

As the ice harvesting activities officially initiated, Winter Olympics champion Zhang Yuting, as a special guest, smashed the "first ice block." Dozens of ice harvesters, accompanied by the lively "Ice Harvest Anthem," worked together to harvest the first ice from the Songhua River, which symbolizes happiness and auspiciousness. This extended the warmest invitation to visitors from all directions.

This year's "First Ice" will be transported to the "First Ice Platform" built in front of the Blessing Bell at the Harbin Ice and Snow World. Throughout the 2023-2024 ice and snow season, visitors to the venue can get up close with the "First Ice" and share in the joy and luck. At the Ice Harvest Festival, enjoying a bite of delicious dumplings and sipping on dumpling soup warms the hearts of both locals and tourists.

The event featured ice skating and ice hockey performances, as well as interactive activities for residents and tourists to enjoy the sports on the Songhua River.

Harbin is the only provincial capital in China awarded as the "City of Olympic Champions" by the Chinese Olympic Committee and the first "City of Double Asian Winter Games" in China. The Ice Harvest Festival not only greatly boosts its ice and snow tourism, but also reflects the city's long-standing ice and snow culture and demonstrates its confidence and determination to present a wonderful and successful Asian Winter Games again.

"It's not that I can't afford to go to Europe, but Harbin offers better value for money." Henan online influencer Coal Ball Hero was lured to Harbin by its fascinating tourism promotion, where he concluded that "Harbin is really more than just talk." "This is a wonderful city within the scenic area. Here I've seen the sunset after 3 p.m., and passed Harbin Station that leads to Hogwarts. Traveling in Harbin is like experiencing another dimension," he said, "I visited the Louvre (Harbin Sixth Pharmaceutical Factory), the Big Ben in London (Music Corridor), the St. Peter's Basilica Church in Italy (Saint Sophia Cathedral)..." A trip to Harbin was almost as good as a trip around the world.

And there is more. The Harbin Ice and Snow World is about to open early; Yabuli Ski Resort has already opened, with the number of booking reaching a historical high for the same period; Harbin Polar Park has become the most-watched marine park in China; Saint Sophia Cathedral Square is one of the hottest photo spots online... This winter, Harbin has ushered in a boom in ice and snow tourism. With the arrival of the Fourth Ice Harvest Festival, the "pearl on the crown of ice and snow" will continue to wow the world with its brilliance and ingenuity on ice and snow.

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