China's renowned "Ice City" of Harbin is ramping up efforts to strengthen and optimize its transportation services this winter as it aims to offer a better welcome to visitors from home and abroad and showcase its distinctive brand of ice and snow tourism.
The northeastern Chinese city is set for an extra busy winter as it gears up to play host to the 9th Asian Winter Games, which open on Feb 7 next year and is expected to bring in a further influx of visitors. This will also be the first major international ice and snow event hosted by China since the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
With all preparatory work progressing smoothly, there are also plenty of nods to the upcoming games seen all around Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang Province.
The special K5197 train, which departs from Harbin and heads to the popular ski resort of Yabuli Town some 170 kilometers away, features carriages decorated with ice and snow elements, as well as motifs of the Asian Winter Games.
Passengers on the train can also write their thoughts, feelings, or blessings on the snowflake-shaped postcards and stick them on the windows of the carriage, leaving a personal footprint of their journey.
"We've also prepared souvenir stamps for passengers to use and mark their trips, featuring the cute designs of the Asian Winter Games mascots, Binbin and Nini," said Gao Jie, a train conductor.
In addition, passengers can scan the QR code on the train with their phones to easily access information about the major local scenic spots, special foods, and train transfer times.
Ahead of the Asian Winter Games, the China Railway Harbin Group has launched additional train services connecting major tourist cities across Heilongjiang Province, including Harbin, Mudanjiang, and Jiamusi. These services also cover ski resorts for the games and popular lake tourism areas, providing travelers with more convenient transportation and enhancing their ice and snow tourism experience.
"We have increased the number of high-speed trains to Yabuli to 34, with more frequent departures than before," said Jiang Bing, a staff member in charge of passenger transport at the China Railway Harbin Group.
In addition, Harbin has also launched a special shuttle service for the Asian Winter Games, connecting the city's main bus station and the airport. Starting in January, the Harbin Taiping International Airport will increase its capacity to handle more flights, reaching over 60 flights per hour at the peak.
Along with improvements to transport services, Harbin has also offered tourist amenities like free Wi-Fi and rain and snow gear in its major tourist areas. Many businesses along the streets offer rest areas, hot tea and water, luggage storage, and other services for locals and visitors, with temperatures set to plummet well below freezing.
China's "Ice City" optimizes transport services to boost tourism
Chinese medical teams arrived at a medical aid station in Amarapura, Mandalay, one of the worst-hit areas by the recent devastating earthquake in Myanmar, on Thursday, to offer medical consultations and treatment, and provide essential supplies to those affected by the disaster.
Mandalay in central Myanmar has been the hardest hit region after a powerful 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck the country last Friday, with 2,053 people killed, 2,691 others injured and 210 people still missing as of Thursday, state-run daily Myanma Alinn reported on Friday.
As of Thursday, the death toll across the country from the earthquake had risen to 3,145, with 4,589 others injured and 221 missing, the Myanmar Radio and Television reported.
"My father was already in poor health, and when the house collapsed, his feet were injured. He was then taken to the hospital for treatment. His back and chest were also injured. He also suffers from other health problems," said a local resident.
"Currently, the most common injuries we have treated here are external wounds and fractures. At present, many locals can only stay outdoors. With the disruption of water supply, there is a high risk of diarrhea. Dengue fever is another common disease that often emerges after such a disaster. There is a severe shortage of medicines, and we were unprepared with earthquake measures or stockpiled supplies. Anti-inflammatory medications are urgently needed for external wounds and fractures. Due to prolonged exposure to the intense heat, saline solutions and energy drinks are also required. Additionally, medicines to treat diarrhea are urgently needed," said a Myanmar nurse.
Following the devastating earthquake, multiple Chinese rescue teams have arrived in the disaster-stricken areas, working with local responders to carry out relief operations.
To address the shortage of medical supplies, Chinese medical teams have brought large amounts of essential medicines with them. Meanwhile, Chinese medical personnel are collaborating with local doctors to provide assistance to quake-affected people.
"We call this a mobile pharmacy. After the earthquake, people have dispersed to various areas, making it difficult for many to access government hospitals. Today, we are here at a small medical aid station where there is an urgent need for medicines. The demand for supplies varies across different hospitals and medical stations, with some requiring more orthopedic medications, while others need more internal medicine supplies. To address these varying needs, we developed this innovative model, allowing them to select the specific medicines they require," said Xue Yu, leader of a civil medical team from China.
"Our main focus is to provide technical guidance, including conducting medical rounds and offering services at temporary settlements. Local hospitals should also pay attention to hygiene issues, as outbreaks of diseases can occur after major disasters. Simply treating patients may not be enough; efforts must also be made to prevent and control issues such as water contamination or diseases spread by mosquitoes. These are challenges need to be addressed in the later stages," said Zhang Tao, an orthopedic trauma surgeon from Tianjin Hospital, China.
Chinese medical teams provide assistance for quake-affected people in Mandalay
