Harbin extravaganza boosts China's ice-and-snow economy

Harbin restaurant owner Yin Zhi serves 600 cups of free hot ginger and jujube water daily to tourists as they explore Harbin's major boulevard.

"We would like to show visitors everything good here, such as the good food, good drinks and good scenery," he said. "This is the unique way of a northeastern resident welcoming his guests."

A great number of other ice-and-snow activities are being held in the northeastern Chinese provinces of Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning this winter to deliver immersive experiences of folk cultural events and the ice and snow landscape.

Jilin province, neighboring Heilongjiang, boasts 75 ski resorts, and has ranked first among China's skiing destinations for many years.

Sergi Drago Gonzalez from Spain commended the ski resort in the Changbai Mountains for being on par with those in the European Alps and the North American Rocky Mountains, which all boast the soft powder snow favored by skiing fans.