Harbin, China’s famed “ice city”, is preparing for another spectacular winter tourism season with expanded attractions and a flurry of activity at its iconic ice park. Harbin Ice-Snow World, the world’s largest ice-and-snow theme park, is scaling up operations, unveiling new experiences and upgraded services as construction advances rapidly.

This year, over 400,000 cubic metres of ice and snow will be used to create dazzling sculptures and amusement structures, including 200,000 cubic metres of ice preserved from last winter. Extracted from the frozen Songhua River, the ice ensures the strength needed for carving the park’s signature sculptures. Regular inspections have kept about 80 percent of the stored ice in prime condition.

Spanning 1.2 million square metres, up 200,000 from last year, the park will introduce fresh attractions, from hot spring camps and cross-country skiing tracks to themed parades and ice activities. Last season drew 3.56 million visitors, while the city itself welcomed a record 90.35 million tourists.

Source: China Central Television