标签： Asia

Harbin transformed into a diplomatic hub for cold-climate cities as mayors from across the globe gathered at the Ice and Snow World complex on Tuesday evening for the Global Mayors Dialogue. The international delegation—representing municipalities from Canada, Finland, Germany, Greece, South Korea, Thailand, and Türkiye—convened to exchange strategies for converting winter conditions into sustainable economic development.

Under the thematic framework “White Gold: Urban Development Driven by the Ice and Snow Economy,” the dialogue salon featured substantive discussions on transforming climatic challenges into opportunities. Li Mian, Executive Vice-Mayor of Harbin, revealed that the current Harbin Ice and Snow World occupies the global lead as the largest ice-themed park, utilizing 400,000 cubic meters of ice—equivalent to approximately 160 Olympic-sized swimming pools. The attraction recorded 3.56 million tourist visits during its 68-day operational period last winter.

“Harbin stands as China’s premier ice city, the cradle of modern winter sports, and an international hub for frost-season tourism,” Li declared. He elaborated on Harbin’s innovative approach to citywide tourism development, creating tailored experiences for diverse demographics and transforming the entire urban landscape into an integrated cultural destination rather than relying on isolated attractions.

International representatives shared parallel initiatives. Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack described how his city reimagines winter as a cultural connector rather than a hardship, stating: “While many endure winter, cities like Harbin and Edmonton thrive through it. We create artistic festivals and sporting events that foster genuine community engagement.”

From Rovaniemi—the official hometown of Santa Claus—City Council Second Chairman Heikki Kontiosalo detailed how extended snow seasons become tourism assets through enhanced ski infrastructure and hospitality investments. Erzurum Vice-Mayor Zafer Aynali highlighted municipal management of ski centers and announced ambitious development targets for 2026-2027 following a successfully hosted world championship.

Even representatives from less frigid regions expressed interest in collaboration. Thorsten Kroll, Vice-Mayor of Magdeburg, noted his city’s limited snowfall but strong desire to partner with Harbin in tourism, pharmaceuticals, technology, and construction sectors.

The gathering demonstrated a growing international recognition of cryospheric economics as a viable development model, with Harbin positioning itself as a central node in this emerging global network.

Harbin recently played host to an international delegation of city leaders during the Global Mayors Dialogue, where discussions extended beyond urban governance to include immersive cultural experiences. The mayors embarked on a sensory journey through the city’s iconic landmarks, beginning at the historic courtyards of Zhongyang Street and continuing to aromatic century-old cultural halls.

The visiting dignitaries warmed themselves with traditional hot kvass and sampled buttery Medovik bread, experiencing firsthand how local cuisine serves as a gateway to understanding urban identity. This culinary diplomacy component demonstrated how cultural immersion can foster deeper international connections and mutual understanding among global leaders.

The event highlighted Harbin’s growing significance as a destination for international diplomatic gatherings, showcasing how Chinese cities are increasingly leveraging their unique cultural heritage to facilitate global exchanges. The mayors’ experience underscored the importance of cultural diplomacy in building bridges between cities worldwide, proving that sometimes the most effective diplomacy happens not in conference rooms but through shared culinary experiences and cultural exploration.

Harbin transformed into a diplomatic winter wonderland as mayors from across the globe convened at the 2026 International Ice and Snow Economy Expo this Tuesday. The event, occurring alongside the Global Mayors Dialogue conference, showcased China’s northeastern city as an emerging hub for cold-weather economic development.

Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack emerged as one of the most impressed delegates after experiencing Harbin’s extensive winter tourism infrastructure. The Canadian leader acknowledged his city’s substantial winter programming while emphasizing the learning opportunity presented by Harbin’s approach. “There is a lot of experience we can take back to further grow our new winter tourism and winter economy,” Knack stated, highlighting the potential for international knowledge exchange.

The exposition demonstrated Harbin’s sophisticated integration of traditional winter culture with modern economic development strategies. Delegates participated in hands-on experiences including ice hockey practices, symbolizing the city’s commitment to blending recreational activities with economic opportunity.

This gathering of municipal leaders from diverse climate regions signifies a growing recognition of specialized seasonal economies as drivers of urban development. The Expo serves not merely as a display of winter attractions but as a platform for cross-border collaboration in cold-weather technology, tourism infrastructure, and sustainable winter city planning.

The event underscores China’s strategic positioning within the global winter economy network, with Harbin emerging as a model for other cities seeking to leverage their climatic conditions for economic growth. The knowledge sharing between international delegates suggests a new era of cooperation in developing cold-weather industries worldwide.

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine authorities have initiated large-scale evacuations surrounding Mayon Volcano, the nation’s most active volcano, following a series of mild eruptions and increased seismic activity. Nearly 3,000 residents residing within the designated permanent danger zone have been relocated as scientists monitor concerning developments.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology elevated the alert status to Level 3 on Tuesday after detecting intermittent rockfalls from the summit crater, some involving debris the size of automobiles, alongside dangerous pyroclastic flows—rapid avalanches of superheated rock fragments, ash, and volcanic gases.

According to Teresito Bacolcol, the country’s chief volcanologist, the current activity constitutes a quiet eruption characterized by lava accumulation at the peak, causing the dome to swell and fracture. While these developments signal volcanic unrest, Bacolcol noted that key indicators of an imminent major eruption—such as significant volcanic earthquakes and elevated sulfur dioxide emissions—remain absent, making predictions about escalation uncertain.

Military personnel, police, and disaster-response teams coordinated the evacuation of 2,800 villagers from 729 households within the 6-kilometer (3.7-mile) radius permanent danger zone. An additional 600 residents living beyond the official danger boundary have voluntarily relocated to government-operated emergency shelters as a precautionary measure.

The evacuation highlights ongoing challenges with enforcement in high-risk areas. Despite long-standing prohibitions marked by concrete warning signs, thousands continue to inhabit the volcano’s foothills, maintaining generational farms and businesses including sand quarrying and tourism operations. Mayon has erupted 54 times since records began in 1616.

The 2,462-meter (8,007-foot) volcano represents both a premier tourist attraction, renowned for its perfect conical shape, and a persistent threat. The buried belfry of a 16th-century Franciscan church—all that remains of Cagsawa town after the catastrophic 1814 eruption that killed approximately 1,200 people—stands as a somber monument to Mayon’s destructive potential.

This situation underscores the broader challenge facing impoverished communities across the Philippine archipelago, where economic necessity often forces populations to inhabit geologically hazardous zones, including volcanic slopes, landslide-prone mountainsides, earthquake fault lines, and typhoon-vulnerable coastlines.