As temperatures plunge to -25°C in Harbin, an unlikely economic thaw is heating up Northeast China. The city's Ice and Snow World – a glittering 600,000-square-meter wonderland of illuminated sculptures – has become the stage for what locals call 'frostbitten fever.'
At the heart of this transformation is 28-year-old live-streamer Zhang Wei, better known to his 4.7 million followers as 'Brother Left-Right.' His nightly dance sessions at frozen parks now draw crowds exceeding 5,000, their collective breath forming steam clouds under subzero skies. 'This cold used to mean staying indoors,' Zhang told KhabarAsia. 'Now it's our greatest asset.'
The regional revival extends beyond tourism. In former industrial hubs like Qiqihar, ice sculptors are repurposing abandoned factories into art studios. Ski resorts along the Changbai Mountains report 300% growth in equipment rentals since 2023, with youth employment in winter sports instruction tripling this year.
China's national winter sports initiative continues fueling this momentum, with 300 million participants nationwide creating new markets for cold-weather tech and apparel. As night falls on Harbin's Central Street, the clink of hotpot pots mixes with laughter in seven languages – proof that in 2026, Northeast China's chill has become its warmest welcome.
