Train service

In the middle of last month, China Harbin Railway Group launched a train service between Harbin and Mohe, Heilongjiang, the nation's most northerly city, themed on culture from Northeast China.

Some sleeper carriages and the dining car were decorated with elements from northeast folk culture, such as window paper cuttings and colorful bedsheets.

During the trip, passengers enjoyed local snacks and dressed in traditional northeastern clothing such as flower-print cotton-padded jackets. They also sang northeastern folk songs, made dumplings, and performed traditional northeastern dances.

Mu Shanshan, the train's conductor, said, "This service is a good way to spread folk culture from the northeast, which allows tourists from South China to better understand the region."

Liu Yuanqi, who comes from Hangzhou, Zhejiang, said: "My friends and I spent New Year's Eve at Harbin Ice and Snow World. As the dazzling fireworks lit up the night sky and turned the park into a fairytale world, it was one of the most unbelievable things I have ever seen.

"However, as we left the park late, it was difficult to find a taxi. But a private car emblazoned with the words' Welcome nanfang xiaotudou (southern spuds, an affectionate term for visitors from the south).I'll give you a ride for free' stopped in front of us and the driver said he could take us to our hotel.

"The driver refused payment. He told me he was happy to do something for his hometown, which also made me feel warm."

Apart from visiting scenic spots, many tourists to Harbin enjoy local delicacies such as tieguodun, or stewed meat and vegetables, made in a large iron pot.

Chen Weiwei, who comes from Taizhou, Zhejiang, and five friends went to a tieguodun restaurant directly after landing in Harbin in the evening on Jan 3.

"All the ingredients, including the meat, vegetables and steamed twisted rolls were cooked in a large pot. It is quite a different taste compared with food from southern China, but we really loved it," Chen said.

"We also tried the local frozen pear snack, which was carefully sliced into bite-sized pieces and elegantly presented." Yao Lilong, general manager of a catering enterprise with 22 teiguodun restaurants across the city, said some customers spend more than two hours waiting for a table if they don't book in advance.

"However, it takes at least two days to confirm an available table. Most of the visitors come from southern regions, and prefer goose as their first choice," he said, adding, "Because the pot contains many ingredients, our waiters advise customers to order less food to avoid waste."

The tourism industry in Heilongjiang set records during the New Year holiday. The province welcomed nearly 6.62 million visitors, a year-on-year rise of 173.7 percent, and 18.4 percent higher than the national growth rate. It achieved tourism revenue of 6.92 billion yuan, a year-on-year rise of 364.7 percent, and 164 percent higher than the national growth rate.