Heilongjiang's Hegang capitalizes momentum of Asian Winter Games to drive growth in ice, snow industry

China

Heilongjiang's Hegang capitalizes momentum of Asian Winter Games to drive growth in ice, snow industry

2025-01-05 17:16 Last Updated At：19:07

Hegang City in China's Heilongjiang Province has been capitalizing the momentum of the upcoming 9th Asian Winter Games to drive growth in the ice and snow industry by holding unique winter sports.

The official competition schedule of the 9th Asian Winter Games was released by the event's organizing committee on Saturday, which will be held from February 7 to 14 in Harbin, the "Ice City" in China.

This event is not just a sporting spectacle, but also a catalyst for economic growth in the region.

Hegang is a city known for its popularity in alpine skiing. Since the 1990s, alpine skiing has been an advantage of Hegang's winter sports activities. The city has nurtured eight athletes who represented China in Winter Olympics, with two of them claiming a total of 11 world championships.

Over the past month, Hegang's ski resorts have seen a significant influx of visitors, with over 3,000 skiing enthusiasts flocking to the slopes. This surge has led to a substantial increase in revenue from tourism-related activities, including ice and snow sightseeings, homestays, and local restaurants, amounting to over 6.26 million yuan (about 855,121 U.S. dollars).

The city is currently hosting a public alpine skiing competition, providing a platform for more skiing lovers to interact and improve their skills.

Participants from various northeastern cities are eager to engage in friendly competition and share their passion for skiing.

"I'm from Yichun. Skiers here in Hegang are exceptionally good in general. Through the competition, we have communications and exchanges of skills. I also enjoy this competition very much," said Liu Fengxuan, a skiing enthusiast from nearby Yichun City in Heilongjiang.

Local authorities are also leveraging the opportunity to promote a range of cultural and tourism activities.

"Taking the advantage of the Asian Winter Games, Hegang has organized over 80 cultural and sports events themed 'Enjoying Ice and Snow'. By integrating sports and tourism, Hegang aims to keep driving growth in the ice and snow industry," said Gu Xiaolong, deputy director of Hegang Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism.

Venezuelan acting president calls for national unity amid complex situation

Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodriguez said on Sunday that the country is at a critical stage and must achieve national unity, emphasizing that maintaining internal cohesion is of utmost importance.

In a televised address, Rodriguez called on the public to continue trusting the government under the current highly complex political circumstances.

Her statement comes in the wake of a January 3 military operation conducted by the United States, during which Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were taken into custody and flown out of the country.

The operation resulted in at least 100 fatalities.

Rodriguez, who was sworn in as acting president two days later on January 5, framed her appeal for unity against this backdrop of external intervention.

Meanwhile, Venezuelan Minister of Communication and Information Freddy Nanez denounced the U.S. actions as a "war crime of the 21st century" when speaking at an international cultural event on Sunday.

Nanez condemned not only the January 3 airstrikes but also the associated cyber and electromagnetic attacks.

He accused the United States of violating international law through the forced removal of President Maduro and his wife, while attacks on civilian infrastructure, including medical facilities, represent a flagrant breach of humanitarian norms.

He reiterated that the stigmatization and military attacks against Venezuela are driven by economic interests, particularly the desire to control its abundant natural resources.