Chills and thrills

Farmhouses are submerged in snow in Xuexiang, a place in Mudanjiang in the north of Heilongjiang province that has snow seven months a year.[Photo provided to China Daily]

Ice and Snow World has increased its ice chutes' total to 32, including a 320-meter-long corridor that claims to be the world's longest.

Sun Island's annual international snow-sculpture expo upped the ante with such architectural creations as a 50-meter-high Russian church.

Light shows and fireworks encouraged night visits.

Three of Yabuli's mountain ski tracks were connected, and new bunny hills were completed this year.

Xuexiang introduced recreational-vehicle campsites.

Heilongjiang launched five winter routes late last year, starting from Harbin and continuing to other regions.

"We want to ride the wave of the successful 2022 Winter Olympics bid to encourage more people from the south to visit Heilongjiang and experience its winter tourism," Hou says.

The local government is working to design interprovincial courses with Inner Mongolia, Jilin and Liaoning.

An emphasis on integrating ethnic customs－camel beauty pageants, nighttime dance parties among livestock and yurt stays－with sublime snowscapes has enthused Inner Mongolia's wintertime influx.

"Scenic spots and hotels stayed closed during winter a few years ago," says Dong Limin, head of the region's tourism authority's tourism promotion department.

"But they've remained open over the past two winters to cater to demand."