HARBIN, Feb. 10, 2025 (Xinhua) -- The 9th Asian Winter Games is currently underway in Harbin. As China's northernmost provincial capital, Harbin experiences long, cold winters, with temperature regularly 20 degrees below zero Celsius. The environment has nurtured a unique culture bound to ice and snow, as well as a rich history in winter sports. Harbin previously hosted the 3rd Asian Winter Games in 1996 and the 24th Winter Universiade in 2009.

In 2024, Harbin saw 179 million tourists. The city's rich ice and snow resources powered for its development as a global destination for tourism.

Contestants pose for a group photo for the 27th Harbin International Snow Sculpture Competition at the Sun Island Snow Sculpture Art Expo park in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Jan. 8, 2025. The 9th Asian Winter Games is currently underway in Harbin.  (Xinhua/Zhang Tao)

An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 11, 2025, shows people playing Ice Hockey at Harbin Lilac Park in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province.  (Xinhua/Zhang Tao)

People have fun at the Harbin Songhua River Ice and Snow Carnival in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Jan. 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Ming)

People have fun at the Sun Island Snow Sculpture Art Expo park in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Jan. 8, 2025. (Xinhua/Xu Yanan)

Ice carver Liu Ruilin works on an ice sculpture themed on the 9th Asian Winter Games at Zhaolin Park in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Jan. 3, 2025.  (Xinhua/Xie Jianfei)

A contestant from France works on a snow sculpture during the 27th Harbin International Snow Sculpture Competition at the Sun Island Snow Sculpture Art Expo park in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Jan. 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)

An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 11, 2025, shows people playing Ice Hockey at Harbin Lilac Park in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao)

Sun Zuoxin (1st L) teaches children skating at Harbin Normal University in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Jan. 17, 2025. 60-year-old Sun Zuoxin, a native of Harbin, developed a love for Ice Hockey when he was young. Since retiring, Sun has served as the vice captain and coach of an elderly Ice Hockey team. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao)

An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 2, 2025, shows an ice lantern show at Zhaolin Park in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province.  (Xinhua/Xie Jianfei)

An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 6, 2025, shows contestants working on snow sculptures during the 27th Harbin International Snow Sculpture Competition at the Sun Island Snow Sculpture Art Expo park in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. (Xinhua/Xie Jianfei)

A contestant works on a snow sculpture during the 27th Harbin International Snow Sculpture Competition at the Sun Island Snow Sculpture Art Expo park in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Jan. 7, 2025. (Xinhua/Xu Yanan)

A child stands on a block of ice on the Songhua River in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Jan. 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Xingyu)

Sun Zuoxin (L) plays Ice Hockey at Harbin Lilac Park in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Jan. 11, 2025. 60-year-old Sun Zuoxin, a native of Harbin, developed a love for Ice Hockey when he was young. Since retiring, Sun has served as the vice captain and coach of an elderly Ice Hockey team. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao)

Ice carvers work on an ice sculpture themed on the 9th Asian Winter Games at Zhaolin Park in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Jan. 2, 2025.  (Xinhua/Xie Jianfei)

Children have fun on the ice at Zhaolin Park in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Jan. 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Ming)