The 2024 Mohe Ice Half Marathon was held in China's northernmost village, Beijicun, or "North Pole Village," in Mohe, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province on Saturday, drawing more than 2,000 runners from home and abroad.
At 10:00, runners set off and ran along the Heilongjiang River, braving temperatures of nearly minus 10 degrees Celsius.
"As southerners, we've never experienced ice and snow like here. We're very excited. We've never seen such beautiful birch forests and rime," said Zhang Hao, participant from Zhejiang Province in east China.
"ming from Sanya with temperature at above 30 degrees Celsius to China's northernmost village Beijicun with temperature below minus 10 degrees Celsius - it feels amazing!" said Liu Yanping, participant from south China's Hainan Province.
Known as China's "North Pole," Mohe has developed a variety of winter tourism programs in recent years, attracting tourists to experience an "extremely cold journey," and continues to improve its infrastructure and develop tourism products to attract more tourists in all seasons.
2024 Mohe Ice Half Marathon draws over 2,000 runners
A growing number of Macao citizens are embracing the opportunities for cross-border employment in Hengqin of Zhuhai City, south China's Guangdong Province, achieving professional growth while enjoying the convenience of a dual-city lifestyle.
One such individual is Hoi Peng, a Macao-born lawyer practicing in Hengqin. Since the establishment of the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin in 2021, Hoi has taken advantage of the new opportunities to open a joint venture law firm.
The firm offers cross-border legal services to clients and businesses in Macao and the mainland on Hong Kong- and Macao-related affairs.
"There are more opportunities in the (Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao) Greater Bay Area and In-depth Cooperation Zone, which provide a bigger stage for our work. In addition to opening a joint law firm, I also obtained the qualification to practice law in the Greater Bay Area, allowing me to handle cases on the mainland," said Hoi.
With her business flourishing, Hoi moved her family from Macao to Hengqin, embarking on a dual-city lifestyle that brings both professional opportunities and everyday convenience.
"It's a new world for us. I often recommend my friends to move to Hengqin. The living environment here is more spacious than in Macao, and it's incredibly convenient. For example, products ordered online are delivered directly to our doorstep," she said.
Like Hoi, Macao restaurateur Tong Sio Kun also reaped unexpected benefits of cross-border entrepreneurship. A few years ago, Tong opened a restaurant in Hengqin, supported by favorable policies like rent subsidies and business incentives.
With a focus on creating unique dishes, Tong's restaurant saw a significant increase in customer traffic. Within just a few months, she recouped her initial investment and made a profit.
"Over the past few years, we've seen returns, and our business has grown several times in size. I'm confident that I will open three more restaurants in Hengqin within the next two years," Tong said. In recent years, Macao citizens have found it increasingly easy to practice their professions on the mainland. Professionals such as tour guides, lawyers, architects, and pharmacists are now allowed to work across borders. In addition, culinary, beauty, and catering qualifications are mutually recognized between Guangdong and Macao.
As integration between Hengqin and Macao picks up speed, more and more Macao talents are choosing to live and work in Hengqin. By July this year, the number of Macao-funded enterprises in the In-depth Cooperation Zone had reached 6,365, up nearly 40 percent from three years ago. By September, more than 20,000 people from Macao were living and working in Hengqin.
Macao citizens enjoy cross-border opportunities, dual-city lifestyle in Hengqin
