With the 9th Asian Winter Games around the corner, the airport in the host city Harbin in northeast China experienced its first daily peak in delegations' arrivals on Saturday as athletes and officials from across Asia began pouring in.
As the official port of entry for the Games, Harbin Taiping International Airport has streamlined customs clearance procedure to ease the surge. At peak hours, 12 manual channels and eight express lanes, including four dedicated to Games participants, were operational to ensure smooth and efficient entry.
More than 100 participants from delegations of South Korea, Japan, Singapore, India, the Philippines and other countries arrived at the airport on Saturday.
To manage the influx, staff deployed advanced inspection equipment, completing luggage scanning and clearance in six seconds on average.
"We've deployed all-in-one smart devices in the inspection area, which integrate the functions of the translator, adjustable verification desk, and biometric system, to ensure fast and efficient clearance for all Games-related personnel," said Zhang Lei, an officer of the Harbin Immigration Inspection Station.
An estimated 5,000 individuals involved in the Games are expected to pass through Harbin airport, with several smaller arrival peaks anticipated in the coming days.
The Games will also offer an opportunity for cultural and sports exchanges across the region while serving as a competition arena.
"I'm really looking forward to this visit and I'm excited because this is the first time my son will be taking part in a big event like this. Yeah, so it's a big thing for him and it's a big thing for us because it has great venue. We're really looking forward to the competition," said Sharish, father of a young Indian athlete.
"I think it's a really great platform for the athletes to engage together. It's also a very good place for cultural exchange I guess," said Koo Jeewoo, a South Korean athlete.
The 9th Asian Winter Games will take place from Feb 7 to 14. The Games will feature six sports, 11 disciplines, and 64 events. This marks the third time that the Games will be hosted in China, following the events in Harbin in 1996 and Changchun, the provincial capital of Jilin, in 2007.
Delegations arrive in Harbin for Asian Winter Games
