North&South: Cross-region tourism ignites wave of enthusiasm in China’s winter season

The vast and diverse landscape of China offers unique travel experiences ranging from the snowy landscapes of the north to the sunny beaches of the south. In 2024, the trend of South-North cross travel saw a wave of enthusiasm for winter tourism in China, showcasing the diverse tourism resources across the country.

This winter, Harbin, the capital of Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, has become one of the hottest tourist destinations in the country. Since January, tourism consumption in Harbin (including hotels, homestays, attraction tickets, and transportation) has increased by over 100 percent compared to the same period in 2023. Many tourists are coming from cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Tianjin, news website thepaper.com reported.

As reported by Guangming Daily, within three hours of opening, Harbin Ice and Snow World received over 40,000 reservations. Meanwhile, 100,000 Madieer Popsicles, a famous local brand, were sold during the three-day New Year's Day holiday. 

Popular spots and streets in the city were crowded with tourists from the south, and social media was flooded with travel guides. During the New Year's Day holiday, the city of Harbin welcomed over 3 million visitors, generating a total tourism revenue of 5.914 billion yuan ($810 million).

A tourist from Guangdong commented, "The last time I touched a chunk of ice was in my refrigerator's ice maker." She had traveled over 3,000 kilometers from Foshan in South China's Guangdong Province to Harbin to experience the ultimate charm of ice and snow.

Further enhancing northeastern China's popularity was the warm reception given to a group of preschool children from the south. 

Around the New Year's Day holiday, a kindergarten from Nanning, South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, sent 11 children, accompanied by three teachers, on a tour to Harbin. Due to their orange outfits and Guangxi's fame for tangerines, they were affectionately called "little tangerines" by netizens.

Outdoors in the icy and snowy environment, the children formed neat lines, waddling and playing in the snow, quickly attracting attention. Their experiences in Northeast China were widely reported by various media, and netizens eagerly followed their journey. Local governments and tourism departments where they visited also provided many conveniences for the children.

To thank the people of the Northeast China for their hospitality, Guangxi sent a batch of tangerines there overnight, offering them free to their "Harbin friends." This gesture became a heartwarming story in the cold winter.

On the flip side, the south offers a warm and comfortable escape from the cold. Popular destinations include Xishuangbanna in Southwest China's Yunnan Province and Sanya in South China's Hainan Province, known for tropical jungle landscapes and sunny beaches, respectively. These places offer a range of activities from rainforest walks to diving and beach sports, attracting tourists from colder northern regions.

Other southern cities like Guangzhou in South China's Guangdong Province and Xiamen in East China's Fujian Province, apart from their pleasant climate, are also famous for their unique culinary experiences and cultural attractions.