China's Heilongjiang well prepared for new winter tourism season

Cities in the far-flung northeastern province of Heilongjiang, a popular destination for winter tourism in China, have been well prepared for welcoming tourists across the country as the weather there has turned cold and snow has enveloped the region.

With abundant snowfall since early autumn, Mohe City has embraced winter early, attracting flocks of tourists from all over the country to experience an ice and snow tour.

Heading all the way north aboard a special tourist train from the provincial capital of Harbin to Mohe, tourists started a romantic trip for winter beauty. Along the route that goes through the Greater Khingan Mountains, tourists will admire magnificent winter sceneries all the way to China's northernmost city Mohe.

"The swirling snowflakes kept falling all the way here. The snowland and snow-capped forests in the Greater Khingan Mountains were really beautiful. The whole trip was amazing," said Feng Jia, a tourist from central China's Hunan Province.

The temperature in Beijicun Village, or "North Pole Village", in Mohe has already dropped to minus 15 degrees Celsisu, where tourists can have a snowball fight and enjoy the beauty of nature.

Living deep in the forests of the Greater Khingan Mountains, the Ewenki ethnic group is the only reindeer tribe in China. coming to the Beijicun Village, tourists can not only get in touch with the lovely reindeer, but also learn about the culture of the ethnic minority.

"I came here for the reindeer. I think it is super cute, and I love it. Mohe City is like a fairy tale forest," said Zhu Zhu, a tourist from south China's Fujian Province.

Known as China's "North Pole," Mohe has developed a variety of winter tourism programs over the past few years to attract tourist to experience an "extremely cold journey," continued to improves its infrastructure and developed tourism products to woo more tourists in all seasons.

Also in Heilongjiang, the provincial capital Harbin, or the "Ice City", is also well prepared for welcoming tourists nationwide. It was one of the most popular destinations in the last winter tourism season. The Harbin Ice and Snow World, one of the city's most famous scenic spots, has expanded its area to one million square meters. It is scheduled to open in mid-December.

The Central Avenue has not only restored the historical buildings, but also built a new tourist center to provide services like luggage storage and simple snacks.

Taking the opportunity of hosting the 9th Asian Winter Games, the Yabuli Ski Resort has upgraded its skiing facilities.

China's Heilongjiang well prepared for new winter tourism season

Twenty-six people have been rescued after a nine-story building under construction collapsed early Sunday in Angeles City in the northern Philippines, according to local government authorities.

The Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office of Angeles said 24 people were pulled from the collapsed structure, while two others were rescued from a nearby aparthotel struck by the incident. Rescue teams are still searching for any individuals who may remain trapped.

Emergency crews cut through layers of shattered concrete and twisted metal, pausing repeatedly to listen for signs of survivors beneath the wreckage.

"Our personnel from the search and rescue team who were conducting the initial assessment were the ones who heard the victims moaning in pain," said Maria Sajili, spokesperson of the Bureau of Fire Protection.

Earlier reports said at least 30 people had been trapped under the building.

The Angeles City Information Office said the accident occurred around 03:00 local time, turning much of the site into a mountain of rubble.

Heavy rains and strong winds preceded the collapse, with 44 millimeters of rainfall recorded between 19:00 and 20:00 on Saturday, according to local atmospheric services.

Several workers managed to escape during the initial collapse, while others nearby suffered minor injuries. Emergency personnel from multiple agencies have since been deployed, but the officials said the effort remained extremely challenging.

Rescue crews are navigating unstable concrete slabs, tight voids within the wreckage, and the constant risk of further collapse.

"Challenges, of course, (include) the heat of the sun, and plus it's a massive construction -- concrete, steel and scaffoldings are very heavy and challenging for our responders," said Jay Pelayo, information officer of Angeles City.

Heavy machinery has been deployed to clear parts of the collapse site, but much of the rescue work is still being carried out by hand, with crews moving cautiously through the unstable wreckage in search of survivors.

Investigators have yet to determine the cause of the collapse. Authorities are now examining whether structural weaknesses, construction issues, or other factors may have played a role in the collapse.

26 rescued from building collapse site in N. Philippines