Cold Attracts Tourists to Four Cities in the NorthThe three provinces in Northeast China have set up a four-city travel union to promote development of tourism in the area, especially in winter.Harbin, Changchun, Shenyang and Dalian are all famous for the ice and snow that descends on them every November and which usually lasts until the following March. During the 120-day skiing season, snow can accumulate to layers that are 20-40 centimetres thick. Every winter, millions of domestic and overseas tourists flock to the Northeast to take in the kaleidoscope of winter wonders on offer -frost-filled mornings, ice sculpture, winter swimming contests, skiing performances and the culture of the Shaman ethnic group. Tourism administrations in all four cities now provide tourists with a convenient tour line linking Harbin, Changchun, Shenyang and Dalian, according to senior officials from Jilin, Liaoning and Helongjiang provinces. At a press conference November 20, Wei Minxue, vice-governor of Jilin Province, said that recreational performances on ice and snow in Northeast China's Jilin Province will introduce the opening ceremony of the 2001 China Health and Fitness Programme on New Year's Day. Meanwhile, the Ice and Snow Travel Festival will be held in Changchun, capital of Jilin Province, and Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang Province, from January 1 to February 18, according to chinadaily.com.cn. Sponsored by the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) and the People's Government of Jilin Province, the ceremony is intended to mark the beginning of tourism promotion activities for the new century. "The combination of tourism and health and fitness can be a new way to attract more people to travel in China," said Sun Gang, vice-chairman of the CNTA. |
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