Winter tourism in the northeastern Chinese city Harbin entered a high season as the Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival opened on Sunday.
In the Harbin Ice and Snow World, the prime destination for winter tourists in the city, new sculptures from the just concluded 36th Harbin International Ice Sculpture Competition are unveiled to the public.
Unlike the larger, monumental ice sculptures typically seen at the park, these competition pieces, brought by artists from 12 countries, emphasize fine details and are better appreciated up close.
This year's Ice and Snow World is still rolling out new ice sculptures after opening for half a month. This set of ice sculptures of terracotta warrior sculptures, for example, was just completed.
So far the Ice and Snow World has received 804,000 visitors, a year-on-year increase of 24.3 percent. The tourism season is expected to peak soon, as the city enters its high season marked by the opening of the 41st Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival.
The festival, one of the world's four major ice and snow festivals, also coincides with the 9th Asian Winter Games taking place in Harbin in February, which further heats up tourism for the city.
The Ice and Snow World also hosts a studio of China Media Group, which will be broadcasting programs related to the Asian Winter Games from the heart of China's "ice city."
Ice festival further boosts Harbin's winter tourism
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on Monday that Iran has obtained extensive documents and evidence linking the recent unrest across the country to the U.S. and Israel, noting that Mossad agents attempted to direct such "terrorist acts."
Araghchi said at a press conference in Tehran that since Dec 28, 2025, Iran had seen peaceful demonstrations organized by industry associations and economic professional. In the following days, more participants joined, and the situation gradually escalated from peaceful rallies into violent clashes.
Beginning on Jan 8, terrorists and armed groups carrying weapons entered protest sites and opened fire on police and civilians, with the aim of steering demonstrations toward violence, bloodshed and chaos, he said.
"Israeli media reports are rife with claims that Israel has designed and conducted operations in Iran. Mr. [Mike] Pompeo, who was Trump's CIA director, said on his X that 'Happy New Year to every Iranian in the streets. Also to every Mossad agent walking beside them.' This clearly shows that Mossad agents attempted to direct such terrorist acts," the minister said. Addressing military threats from the U.S. and Israel, Araghchi said Iran does not seek war but is fully prepared to face up to war. He added that Iran is ready for serious and pragmatic negotiations with the U.S., but the talks must be based on fairness, equality and mutual respect, rather than unilateral pressure or directives from Washington.
On the same day, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei condemned the U.S. and Israel at a regular press briefing in Tehran. He said the two countries have made "extensive interventionist remarks" regarding Iran's situation, saying such statements are intended to foment chaos, violence and instability.
The spokesman said Iran is closely monitoring the development of the situation and remains fully prepared, warning that Iran's armed forces will respond to any act of aggression by its enemies.
Mossad agents attempt to direct terrorist acts: Iranian FM
