Wetland tourism heats up in China's 'ice city'

Harbin was among the first batch of cities in China to be certified as "international wetland cities" by the Ramsar Convention. While many Chinese cities are still battling the summer heat, citizens in Harbin, Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, are flocking to the river-bank beaches in the Hulan Estuary Wetland Park to enjoy refreshing water activities and outdoor barbecues. On one Chinese social media platform, wetland parks like "Sun Island Scenic Area" and "Hulan Estuary Wetland Park" have repeatedly appeared among the top search terms for tourist attractions, with many tourists posting photos and notes sharing their experiences. Recently, a China-Russia invitational canoeing competition commenced on the Hulan River at the Hulan Estuary Wetland Park, attracting more than 3,000 Chinese spectators and over 100 Russian spectators. "We have established internal management systems focusing on wetland protection, animal preservation and water-quality monitoring, standardizing the protection operations," said He Xiaohu, director of the operations department of Harbin Alejin Business Management Co., Ltd., responsible for the park's management.