分类： entertainment

The 42nd Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival commenced with breathtaking pyrotechnics and illuminations along the Songhua River banks on Monday evening, marking the spectacular inauguration of Northeast China’s premier winter extravaganza. This legendary celebration, originating as a modest ice lantern exhibition in 1985, has evolved into one of the globe’s four major ice and snow festivals, standing alongside Japan’s Sapporo Snow Festival, Canada’s Quebec Winter Carnival, and Norway’s Oslo Holmenkollen Ski Festival.

The festival serves as Harbin’s signature winter attraction and primary driver for seasonal tourism, extending through February to coincide with traditional Chinese holidays including Spring Festival and Lantern Festival. Organizers have unveiled ten premium ice and snow tourism itineraries alongside scheduling more than 200 cultural, athletic, and economic activities throughout the duration.

Central to the festivities is the Harbin Ice and Snow World, a sprawling 1.2-million-square-meter theme park operating for its 27th consecutive season. The expanded facility utilizes over 400,000 cubic meters of frozen resources, representing a 20% increase from previous installations. As daylight fades, cutting-edge 3D projection mapping and augmented reality technologies transform crystalline structures into a chromatic wonderland, creating an ethereal ice palace atmosphere.

Visitors can experience diverse winter activities including traditional ice fishing, cross-country skiing, snow soccer, and an unprecedented 521-meter ice slide—the longest such attraction ever constructed at the venue. Meanwhile, the 38th Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Art Expo showcases approximately 260 sculptural groups carved from 120,000 cubic meters of snow, featuring highlights like the 23.8-meter ‘Mr Snowman’ and charming panda sculptures.

International participants including Spanish sculptor Albert Marcet have returned for competitive events, with Marcet’s team aiming to surpass their previous special prize achievement in the 28th China Harbin International Snow Sculpture Competition. ‘The ice and snow park left a strong impression on me,’ Marcet remarked after the opening ceremony.

The festival’s core programming includes five major events such as the Asian speed skating super endurance race, attracting nearly 2,000 domestic and international athletes, and the national public snow soccer challenge featuring regional rivalries. Preliminary data indicates robust attendance, with Harbin welcoming 1.4 million visitors on New Year’s holiday’s first day—an 11.4% year-over-year increase.

Tourists like Ru Xiaoqi from Nanjing reported advanced planning was necessary to secure access to popular attractions and accommodations. ‘The whole city demonstrates exceptional hospitality through bilingual signage and complimentary hot water services,’ Ru noted. ‘The attention to detail vastly exceeds expectations, making the experience thoroughly worthwhile.’

Vietnamese theaters have welcomed the premiere of ‘Into the Mortal World’ (Luofanchen), a Chinese animated feature film that represents the first mainland Chinese cinematic release in Vietnam since 2019. The film’s debut signals a significant resurgence of Chinese cultural exports in Southeast Asian markets.

Produced by Guangzhou-based Winsing Animation, the film draws inspiration from the ancient Chinese legend of the cowherd and the weaver girl (Niulang and Zhinyu). The narrative follows the extraordinary adventures of their descendants, siblings Jinfeng and Yulu, as they embark on a mission to recover the 28 constellations and safeguard the mortal realm.

The film’s strategic release during Vietnam’s peak holiday season ensures widespread distribution across more than 300 screens nationwide. This extensive theatrical presence reflects both the recovering Southeast Asian film market and growing distributor confidence in Chinese cinematic products.

Market analysis reveals consistent growth patterns across Southeast Asia, with annual box office revenues expanding at 5-6%. Vietnam’s film market alone achieved a record-breaking $185 million in total revenue during 2024, earning recognition from international media outlet Deadline as one of Asia’s most rapidly developing cinema markets.

According to Gu Yanmei, Vice-President of Winsing Animation, the film’s successful Vietnamese debut stems from multiple factors: ‘Our production standards match international excellence, featuring over 2,000 specialized effects shots developed across five years of meticulous production. In an era of escalating audience expectations for audiovisual experiences, this technical proficiency serves as a primary attraction for young cinema-goers.’

Cultural affinity between China and Vietnam provides another significant advantage. The foundational mythology of the cowherd and weaver girl remains familiar to Vietnamese audiences, naturally reducing cultural barriers to comprehension. Winsing Animation further enhanced accessibility through comprehensive localization efforts, including Vietnamese dubbing and collaborative marketing strategies developed with local partners.

Prior to its Vietnamese premiere, ‘Into the Mortal World’ achieved international distribution across more than 40 countries and regions, including Russia, Singapore, Australia, and Thailand. The film has also received recognition at prestigious international events, including Japan’s Niigata International Animation Film Festival and Italy’s Fanhua Chinese Film Festival.

The annual Pongal festival season has ignited a monumental cinematic clash in Tamil Nadu’s film industry, pitting two highly anticipated productions against each other in a dramatic box office confrontation. Thalapathy Vijay’s political thriller ‘Jana Nayagan’ faces formidable competition from Sudha Kongara’s period action drama ‘Parasakthi’, creating one of the most talked-about theatrical face-offs in recent memory.

‘Parasakthi’, drawing its title from the legendary 1952 Tamil film that launched Sivaji Ganesan’s illustrious career, represents a significant milestone for lead actor Sivakarthikeyan. The television personality-turned-actor headlines an ensemble cast featuring Ravi Mohan as the primary antagonist and Sreeleela making her Tamil cinema debut. The production boasts additional star power with Rana Daggubati and Basil Joseph in special appearances, supported by Papri Ghosh and Prakash Belawadi.

Set against the volatile backdrop of 1960s Tamil Nadu, the film explores the intense anti-Hindi imposition and student movements that shaped the region’s cultural identity. Sivakarthikeyan portrays a railway loco pilot drawn into the political turmoil, while Mohan’s character embodies a ruthless police officer determined to suppress the uprising through any means necessary.

The project benefits from considerable creative pedigree, with National Award-winning composer GV Prakash Kumar (nephew of Oscar winner AR Rahman) handling musical direction. Director Sudha Kongara brings her acclaimed storytelling expertise, previously demonstrated in the critically praised ‘Soorarai Pottru’ (2020) and the gritty sports drama ‘Irudhi Suttru’.

The theatrical competition has gained additional dimensions beyond mere commercial considerations. Distribution arrangements have sparked political interpretations, with ‘Parasakthi’ being handled by Red Giant Movies, founded by DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin. This connection has fueled speculation about underlying political narratives, particularly given Vijay’s recent political party formation and criticisms of the ruling DMK government.

Despite the competitive atmosphere, industry reports indicate professional respect between the productions. Sivakarthikeyan has publicly acknowledged communication with Vijay’s team, receiving assurances of no ill will and even personal regards from the senior actor.

The two Tamil productions must also contend with significant Telugu releases during the festive period, including Prabhas’s ‘The Raja Saab’ and Chiranjeevi’s ‘Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu’, creating a pan-Indian box office spectacle that will test audience preferences across multiple markets.

Locajoy Theme Park in Yongchuan district, Chongqing, has orchestrated a distinctive dual celebration commemorating both the New Year and the two-year residency of four giant pandas within its facilities. The park’s animal care team designed an elaborate gastronomic experience for the pandas, transforming nutritious ingredients into artistic displays resembling traditional local street food.

The culinary specialists utilized bamboo leaves, fresh shoots, and an assortment of fruits including cherries, strawberries, and kiwis to create visually striking platters and skewers. Additional components such as sugarcane, corn, carrots, and bell peppers were incorporated to ensure both nutritional balance and visual appeal, mimicking the presentation of popular human snacks while maintaining appropriate dietary standards for the endangered species.

The four celebrated residents—Qing Hua, Qing Lu, Qiao Yue, and Ai Lian—originally from the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Sichuan province, have adapted exceptionally well since their translocation in late 2023. Park authorities report the pandas have not only thrived physically but have become central attractions, drawing considerable visitor attention and contributing significantly to conservation awareness efforts.

The anniversary event served dual purposes: celebrating the animals’ successful acclimatization and reinforcing the park’s commitment to innovative animal care practices. This approach demonstrates how modern zoological facilities can combine entertainment with substantive conservation education, creating meaningful experiences for both animals and visitors alike.

A groundbreaking nature documentary series showcasing Guangdong’s extraordinary ecological diversity has made its global debut, marking an unprecedented collaboration between British and Chinese media organizations. ‘Wild Guangdong,’ a three-part series produced through a partnership between BBC Studios and Guangdong Radio and Television Station, premiered simultaneously across international and domestic platforms in December.

Employing cutting-edge 4K ultra-high definition technology, the documentary presents an immersive visual journey through Guangdong’s varied ecosystems. The production represents the first time BBC Studios has partnered with provincial-level Chinese media, combining British documentary expertise with local ecological knowledge.

The series, which required three years of meticulous filming across seasonal cycles, captures rarely-seen wildlife behaviors and landscapes. From the primeval forests of northern Guangdong to the coral reefs of the South China Sea, the documentary team documented over 1,000 animal species and 6,000 plant species that thrive in the region’s unique microclimates and complex terrain.

Robi Stanton, President of Media and Streaming for BBC Studios Asia-Pacific, described the project as ‘a moving poem of harmonious coexistence’ that illustrates how Guangdong’s 130 million residents maintain ecological balance alongside rapid urban development. The documentary particularly highlights conservation success stories, including protection efforts for Chinese white dolphins and the discovery of a new species of eyelid gecko.

Beyond its television broadcast on BBC Earth Asia and Chinese networks, the series has reached international audiences through streaming platforms across Southeast Asia, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, potentially reaching over 20 million households. Chinese viewers can access the documentary on major platforms including Youku, iQiyi, Tencent Video, and Bilibili.

Series producer Simon Winchcombe characterized the filming experience as ‘a fascinating journey’ that consistently yielded unprecedented wildlife footage. The documentary ultimately presents not just a catalog of species but compelling narratives about interdependence among life forms and the delicate balance between human progress and environmental preservation.