By MEI ZI & YU JIE

　　HEILONGJIANG Province in northeast China spans 10 latitudinal degrees. Its geographical location and climate have become unique attractions, engendering special tours that give holiday makers the chance to enjoy the fun of ice and snow, rambles through forests, relief from the hot and humid summer days of south China, and trips across the border to experience exotic sights and sounds. In recent years, the province has developed a series of ecological tours whose scenery features ice and snow, forests, wetland, grassland, scale agriculture, border rivers and lakes, and special geological formations and landmass. There are also city and border tours, as well as cultural tours to ethnic minority areas.
　　Heilongjiang's Jingbo Lake is the world's second largest alpine barrier lake, and was formed around 10,000 years ago. Its natural beauty is a source of fascination to all who behold it, and the lake's Diaoshuilou Waterfall bears a striking resemblance to Niagara Falls. The province also boasts the volcanic landmass of Wudalianchi, with five connected lakes, one of the world's three largest cold springs, the border lake of Xingkai, the arctic village of Mohe, the Sino-Russia border town of Wusu, the Zhalong Wetlands, the Greater and Lesser Hinggan Mountains and the Wuying Korean Pine Primeval Forest.
　　Heilongjiang is home to many ethnic minorities, and is the place of origin of the Chinese ethnic minority dynasties of the Northern Wei (386-534), Liao (907-1125), Jin (1115-1234) and Qing (1644-1911). Ruins dating back some 42,000 years have been discovered in the province.
　　Heilongjiang has opened 24 ports of entry along its 3,000-kilometer border, connecting Asia and the Pacific Region with Russia and the European continent. As a result, border tours have become a unique feature of local tourism. Improvement to the environment and infrastructure in recent years have brought an increasing number of tourists to Helongjiang. According to Ning Shimin, head of the provincial tourism administration, in 1999 the number of incoming tourists exceeded 400,000, bringing in foreign currency earnings of US $150 million, while the number of domestic tourists reached 24 million, generating an income of 10.2 billion yuan, accounting for 4 percent of the provincial GDP. Within the next Five-Year Plan Period the province is aiming for a two-fold increase in the number of its tourists every two years and the related amount of generated income.
　　Heilongjiang has benefited greatly from its snowy climate and long winter. Snow-covered mountains, forests and grasslands form a pristine silver landscape. Trees heavy with hoarfrost along its river banks, as well as its famous ice and snow sculptures further embellish its aesthetic delights. Skating, skiing, winter swimming, hunting, angling and fishing, and other winter recreational activities provide ample opportunity for those keen to participate. The annual Harbin Ice and Snow Festival has become the main choice of Chinese people for their winter holidays.
　　January is a month of snow in Harbin. The 17th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival is being held there this month. This annual event is the first of its kind in China, starting on January 5 and lasting for 50 days. Its organizer aims to make this January's the largest, most diversified and wholly the best festival ever. Activities will encompass tourism, economy and trade, science and technology, culture, arts and sports.
　　Tourist activities feature four carefully selected ice and snow routes, and over 20 diversified tourist programs. Ice and snow art activities are aimed at creating a recreational, ornamental and participatory Grand Ice and Snow World, with Coming into the New Era as its theme. The concurrent 27th Ice Lantern Fair, the 13th Ice Sculpture Fair and the Eurasia Folklore Garden also have as their respective themes: New Century: Dream of Ice, New Century: Rhythm of Snow, and New Century: Charm of Snow. Amidst the ice and snow cultural and art activities are itinerant ice and snow merrymaking performances, photographic and ice and snow painting contests, a film festival, a wedding-on-ice, and lantern making and yangko dance contests. As regards winter sports, the International Women's Ice Hockey Invitational Tournament and snow soccer and winter swimming contests will be held. In addition, there will be economic and trade activities and local produce sales exhibitions.
　　The Grand Ice and Snow World is located at Stalin Park along the banks of the Songhua River and on the islet beach of the river. Within an area of 300,000 square meters, there are four sections and 23 scenic spots, built up of 70,000 cubic meters of ice and 150,000 cubic meters of snow. Six "man-made sun" and laser combinations will be shown for the first time,.
　　Heilongjiang Province has opened 14 skiing ranges for tourists and holiday makers and the Yabuli Ski Slopes have successfully staged three Asian winter games. With economic development and improvement of people's lives in mind, the local government expects winter tourism to be a major earning power for the province.