As the Chinese people across the country are immersing themselves in the festive Spring Festival atmosphere, many foreign visitors joined forces to explore China's streets and neighborhoods to experience the unique charm of the Chinese New Year in advance.
At a New Year market in Baoqing ski town of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, a dazzling array of goods, aromatic snacks, and rich traditional folk activities are attracting many foreign tourists to come and enjoy the festivities.
While the market is abuzz with vendors hawking their products, Russian travelers are busy selecting special foods, experiencing traditional culture, and soaking up China's holiday atmosphere up close.
"I came with a tour group to this beautiful place called Baoqing. How beautiful it is here. There is a good museum that tells about the history of this area. The market has kebabs, corns and other delicacies. It's very fun and friendly here. Thank you very much. We will come to Baoqing again," said a Russian tourist.
Beyond the lively New Year market, hot springs have also become a must-visit attraction for Russian travelers, offering a uniquely northeastern Chinese warmth amidst ice and snow.
"This is not my first time in China, but for the first time here. I really like very cool hot springs here. It's fairly large and very beautiful. Everything is decorated, kebabs are very tasty, and the service is very good. In short, everything is fine," said another Russian tourist.
Looking forward, Baoqing County will continue to develop its local cultural resources, creating distinctive and immersive cultural and tourism products to further attract cross-border visitors.
The Spring Festival, also known as the Chinese New Year, falls on Feb 17 this year. The official holiday lasts nine days from Feb 15 to 23.
Foreign travelers join Chinese people to relish Spring Festival atmosphere
