The 9th Asian Winter Games have sparked widespread excitement for winter sports and tourism, transforming a small town in Heilongjiang, northeast China, into a thriving winter wonderland and a must-visit destination for travelers.
Scheduled for February 7 to 14, the Games will be hosted across two competition zones, one in Harbin City and the other in Yabuli County, a subordinate county of Harbin.
Only more than 100 kilometers away from Yabuli, Hengdaohezi Town has abundant historical buildings and won the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation in 2018.
Currently, the town is experiencing a peak in winter tourism, with a steady stream of visitors coming to ski and capture the scenic beauty.
The ice and snow industry has evidently become a new pillar of economic development for the town.
"We've never seen such large amounts of snow before, and seeing it for the first time is really exciting," said one of the visitors.
The rapid development of winter tourism has transformed Hengdaohezi from a secluded ice town surrounded by mountains into a popular destination.
"I had never been here before, and it completely meets my expectations of what northeast China looks like," another tourist said.
Homestays, photography studios, and cafes have sprung up amid the influx of tourists, with more young people choosing to return home to start their own businesses.
Song Zhihui, a cafe owner in Hengdaohezi Town, shared her inspiring story of building a successful business.
"After the winter tourism boom over the past two years, I thought maybe I should come back home to create a more elegant place for tourists to have a better resting spot during their travels," said Song.
She added that the cafe sells an average of about 200 cups of coffee daily.
Previously, Hengdaohezi had 167 businesses in accommodation, dining, and travel photography. In 2024, more than 80 new businesses have opened to customers.
"Hengdaohezi is so popular now, coinciding with the timing of the Asian Winter Games, bringing us a significant influx of visitors. As northeast China's winter tourism gains wide recognition, we are truly experiencing what it means that ice and snow are invaluable assets," said Song.
Asian Winter Games bring economic windfall to small town in northeast China
According to the Guangxi Emergency Management Department, a rescue helicopter evacuated one patient and family members from Dieshi Village of disaster-hit Hengzhou City to the urban area for treatment on Saturday morning.
As of noon Saturday, the helicopter had completed 15 sorties totaling 18 hours and 6 minutes of flight time. The crew conducted aerial surveys over reservoirs and townships in Hengzhou, as well as districts in Guigang.
A total of 2,764 items of emergency supplies and medicine were airdropped to township governments and villages.
So far, two patients and their family members have been evacuated.
In Guigang City, five counties and districts have been affected by persistent heavy rainfall and flooding starting from early July, triggered by Typhoon Maysak, the 10th typhoon of the year.
All temporary shelters are now operating in an orderly manner, providing food, medical services and supplies.
At the No. 3 Junior High School of Qintang Street, the shelter has received a total of 640 visits from displaced residents and emergency rescue personnel since it opened on July 6.
Currently, about 190 residents and 280 rescue personnel remain at the shelter.
In addition to basic necessities, the shelter has set up a basic medical service point and a psychological counseling room to meet the diverse needs of those taking shelter.
"They provided toothbrushes, toothpaste, toiletries, quilts and pillows, as well as donated supplies including clothes," said Huang Xueqi, a resident sheltered at the school.
"We have a place to stay, food and clothing. Everything is well arranged. This flood has been devastating, but we must stay strong. We are deeply grateful for their help," said Qiu Lijian, another resident.
"The shelter has medical teams to give residents physical checkups and psychological counseling. We also set up a temporary classroom for charging devices to help people stay connected. Our supply storage room has received donations from caring enterprises across the country, so we have enough supplies. We have also prepared special items for vulnerable groups, such as baby formula and diapers. We can fully meet the living needs of those staying here," said Bi Haojun, a faculty member at the school.
Local authorities said shelters in Guigang will continue to provide resettlement services, daily necessities and supplies, with relief efforts dynamically adjusted based on residents' return and recovery progress, to ensure that the basic needs of flood-affected residents are met and they get through the flood season safely.
Helicopters airdrop supplies, evacuate sick people as Guangxi weathers rainstorm, floods
