An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 25, 2025 shows tourists visiting the Harbin Ice-Snow World in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. (Xinhua/Wang

Take a flight of discovery high above the enchanting Harbin Ice and Snow Festival in China with this stunning drone footage. Glide over magnificent ice palaces, illuminated sculptures, and vibrant winter displays that transform the city into a frosty wonderland.

As the 2025 Asian Winter Games concluded on February 14, the city of Harbin is now experiencing a remarkable upsurge in various aspects. The booming popularity, rising consumption and thriving industries are generating a strong momentum for the economy of the 'Ice City.

China topped the final medal table at the Asian Winter Games in Harbin with a record haul on Friday but its delegation's head stressed the need for improvement if the country is to be competitive at the highest level.

Plenty of people are sceptical that the ice-and-snow economy can lead to long-term change. More tourism can help at the margins, but “the ski resort does not solve the structural-adjustment problem,” says Andrew Batson of Gavekal Dragonomics, a research firm in Beijing.

It was the largest Games yet with a record 1,275 athletes from 34 countries and regions. But Harbin's popularity has long been underway.

Harbin, China - Recent China's ice and snow tourism has experienced booming growth during the 40-day Spring Festival travel rush which just concluded on Saturday. Data from Tongcheng Travel, an online travel service provider,

The Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival features ephemeral artworks built from ice blocks pulled from the Songhua River.

This year’s Asian Winter Games hosted in China were about more than entertainment: They are also part of an economic plan to boost consumer spending.

China secured the top spot at the Asian Winter Games in Harbin with 32 gold medals, doubling the tally of South Korea. However, delegation head Zhou Jinqiang emphasized the need for improved standards to compete globally.

President Xi Jinping has dubbed the ski industry a "mountain of gold and silver" and worked to position China as a winter sports leader, hosting major international events like the Asian Winter Games in the northeastern city of Harbin this past week.