Asian Winter Games bring economic windfall to small town in northeast China

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

Chinese Premier Li Qiang emphasized advancing agricultural modernization and ensuring food security when making investigation in northeast China's Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces from Monday to Wednesday.

In Heilongjiang Province, Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visited a state farm and observed the growth of soybean, corn, and rice crops. He stressed that autumn grain accounts for the bulk of annual output, calling for stepped-up farmland management and policy support to ensure grain harvest.

Visiting an agricultural science park and a rice research institute, Li asked about seed breeding innovation and black soil conservation, highlighting the importance of science and technology in pursuing higher yields and calling for further efforts in seed breeding, advanced machinery, and smart farming.

At a major water conservancy project, Li reviewed construction progress, urging faster completion to improve flood control, irrigation, and ecological benefits while supporting stable, high-yield harvests.

In Jilin Province, Li visited an agricultural cooperative and learned about its operations. He called for developing diverse forms of appropriately scaled agricultural operations and improving services for agriculture to help smallholders connect with modern agriculture.

At a grain processing plant, Li inspected a corn oil production line and called for boosting intensive processing of agricultural products to extend industrial chains and raise value.

Li also visited the Chagan Lake and learned about the ecological fisheries. He called for actively developing modern eco-aquaculture, promoting integrated development of the farming, forestry, livestock, and fishing industries as well as the development of eco-tourism.

Chinese premier stresses agricultural modernization, food security