Harbin welcomes Spring Festival with anticipation for Asian Winter Games

With just over a week to go until the opening of the 9th Asian Winter Games, the streets of Harbin are alive with both the festive spirit of the Spring Festival and growing excitement for the upcoming sporting event.

At the Harbin Ice-Snow World, a theme park dedicated to the Asian Winter Games, visitors are treated with a spectacular drone show celebrating the Chinese New Year. The park also features a variety of ice sculptures with festive themes, including a carp symbolizing prosperity and the Chinese character Fu (meaning good fortune) carved in ice.

The world's largest ice park showcases ice sculptures of landmarks from various member countries and regions of the Olympic Council of Asia, as well as snow sculptures depicting different winter sports.

"We decided to spend our holidays in Harbin this year," said Sui Aiwen, a tourist from Shanghai. "Asian Winter Games elements included in the Ice-Snow World have made us more excited about the opening ceremony in a few days."

Harbin has seen surging enthusiasm for ice and snow activities ahead of the Games.

On the morning of January 28, 10-year-old Huang Zitian and his father arrived at a local park to enjoy the snow. The park's natural snow slopes, a popular winter attraction for locals, were bustling with people. "Engaging in winter sports is also a way to celebrate the New Year. We are really looking forward to the Asian Winter Games," said Huang's father, Huang Wen.

During the Spring Festival, many streets in Harbin are adorned with blue snowflake-shaped lights featuring the Asian Winter Games emblem. The entrances of shops are decorated with red couplets, creating a striking contrast between red and blue that highlights the festive ambiance.