LensToLens | Shenyang and Sapporo: Friendship between two ice and snow cities | XINHUA

SHENYANG/SAPPORO, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Located in northeast China's Liaoning Province, Shenyang, at 41 degrees north latitude, boasts diverse ice and snow, hot spring resources and a long history of winter-related culture.

These unique advantages provide the city with a strong potential to develop winter tourism.

People enjoy themselves at a hot spring resort in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province.

Visitors play at the bonfire party in the rice paddy theme park in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province.

At the ice and snow parks and hot spring resorts here, visitors can fully experience the unique charm and fun of winter via various activities.

A child holds a lit sparkler in the rice paddy theme park in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province.

A tourist explores a snow maze in the rice paddy theme park in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province.

Leveraging the abundant hot spring resources, Shenyang and surrounding cities like Anshan and Benxi have built multiple hot spring towns and developed a hot spring tourism industry.

According to statistics, the number of ice and snow projects in Liaoning Province during the 2023-2024 ice and snow season reached 110, nearly double compared to the year of 2020.

People enjoy indoor hot spring at a hot spring resort in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province.

An aerial drone photo shows a man enjoying a hot bath at a hot spring resort in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province.

Visitors pose for photos with flowers encased in an ice wall at a hot spring resort in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province.

A visitor walks through an ice chamber at a hot spring resort in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province.

Tourists enjoy hot spring with a ski area in the background at a resort in Benxi, northeast China's Liaoning Province.

Located approximately 1,300 kilometers east of Shenyang, Japan's Sapporo, at 43 degrees north latitude, is also a renowned ice and snow city.

Forty-five years ago, the two cities established a sister-city relationship.

File photo shows musicians performing in front of a snow sculpture at the 62nd Sapporo Snow Festival in Sapporo, Japan.

File photo shows ice sculptures at the 62nd Sapporo Snow Festival in Sapporo, Japan.

File photo shows girls having fun at the 63rd Sapporo Snow Festival in Sapporo, Japan.

A staff member works on an ice sculpture at the 75th Sapporo Snow Festival in Sapporo, Japan.

An annual grand snow festival is held in Sapporo every February.

As one of Japan's most famous winter celebrations, the Sapporo Snow Festival is the most representative winter event in Hokkaido Prefecture since its inception in 1950 with millions visiting every year to enjoy the ice and snow art and culture.

Tourists visit the 73rd Sapporo Snow Festival in Sapporo, Japan.

Tourists have fun at the 71st Sapporo Snow Festival in Sapporo, Japan.

Tourists take photos of snow sculptures at the 71st Sapporo Snow Festival in Sapporo, Japan.

A girl plays at the 71st Sapporo Snow Festival in Sapporo, Japan.

Sapporo is also famous for its winter sports industry. In 1972, Sapporo successfully hosted the 11th Winter Olympic Games, becoming the first Asian city to host the event. Moreover, it was also the host city for the Asian Winter Games in 1986, 1990, and 2017.

Thanks to the sports events, Sapporo and its surroundings are now home to several world-class ski resorts.

File photo shows China's Sun Jianping competing during the men's individual normal hill ski jumping at the 2017 Sapporo Asian Winter Games in Sapporo, Japan, Feb. 22, 2017.

Shenyang and Sapporo, two cities along the "golden latitude belt" for ice and snow, share a profound friendship with a long history.

Reporters: Li Gang, Yang Qing, Pan Yulong, Jia Haocheng, Zhang Xiaoyu, Du Xiaoyi, Li Ziyue■

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LensToLens | Shenyang and Sapporo: Friendship between two ice and snow cities

XINHUA