The diplomats from multiple countries got a first-hand experience of China's rising ice and snow industry in their three-day trip to the country's northeastern Jilin Province, which concluded on Thursday.
The diplomats visited the Ninth Jilin International Ice and Snow Tourism Industry Exposition in the provincial capital Changchun on Thursday.
The event showcased the vitality and prospects of Jilin's ice and snow-related business through immersive experiences in thematic pavilions.
"I'm very surprised to see how technology is also being implemented in the tourism industry around the snow. For example, we just saw some equipment for emergency management [and] what they (the developers) have put together to develop this industry. It's very impressive, and we have a lot to learn from them," said Ramiro Jose Cruz Flores, Nicaraguan ambassador to China.
In their trip to Songhuahu Ski Field, many diplomats said the well-equipped resort is set to provide skiers with a high-quality experience, and they also enjoyed themselves in the tourism destination.
"This is my first time experiencing real snow, like thick levels of snow. I come from Caribbean region, so, this is my first time. I like it. I had to get to used to the cold, but I'm ok, so far," said Youandi Berrenstein, charge d'affaires at the Embassy of Republic of Suriname in China.
"It's beautiful, and it's very well designed. I know because I like very much to ski in the snow since I was a child. I've been skiing in Switzerland and France. It's much colder than here. Skiing from here to the little town [is a] wonderful experience," said Sergio Cabrera, Colombian ambassador to China.
According to an industrial research report, the size of China's ice-and-snow industry is projected to reach one trillion yuan this year.
During the 2024-2025 ski season, consumer spending on winter sports and related activities exceeded 187.5 billion yuan, representing year-on-year growth of more than 25 percent.
Diplomats explore potential of China's ice, snow industry in Jilin
Efforts are underway in Gaza City to salvage what remains of the territory's cultural heritage after nearly two years of war.
At the ruins of the Great Omari Mosque, Gaza's oldest and largest mosque, Palestinian workers have been clearing and sorting stones dating back more than 1,200 years using basic tools.
"The Great Omari Mosque represents the heart and soul of Gaza City, and Palestine as a whole. The value of these stones is not in their size, but in their deep and layered historical significance," said Husni Al-Mazloom, manager of the Great Omari Mosque restoration project.
Only fragments of the mosque's minarets and a few of its external walls remain standing.
"During the war, it was not only people, trees, and buildings that were targeted, but also thousands of years of human history. Most historical sites in Gaza City were struck and destroyed in an attempt to erase the historical identity of Gaza's people," said Palestinian historian Ayman Al-Balbisi.
Progress on the restoration project has been extremely slow, as Israel continues to restrict the entry of construction materials, even after nearly eight weeks of ceasefire.
On a positive note, however, the project provides locals with more income.
"Before working here, we were unemployed. When this opportunity became available for me and 20 other workers, it allowed us to provide for our families and cover basic needs. During the war, there was no work available for us at all," said worker Ali Al-Qaloushi.
Palestinians have accused Israel of deliberately targeting heritage sites. But Israel denied, saying its strikes followed international law and targeted Hamas tools near or beneath these locations.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has verified damage to 145 religious, cultural and historical sites in Gaza since October 2023, raising fears of irreversible loss in a territory whose history spans more than 5,000 years and carries the imprint of numerous civilizations.
Gazans race to preserve cultural heritage after two years of war
