Kindness in the cold

Rio Ohori, 20, a Japanese student at CUC, observed that behind this ice wonderland lies the passion and craftsmanship of its locals.

While strolling along Central Street, a historic pedestrian area in Harbin, Ohori came across a craftsman carving a large ice block. Despite wearing gloves, Ohori could feel the biting cold of the ice. But when she asked the craftsman if he was cold, he smiled and said, "As long as tourists like you enjoy these beautiful sculptures, I'm not cold at all!"

This response deeply moved Ohori, especially when she noticed the craftsman's face reddened by the cold.

"The people of Harbin truly want the world to see their city," she said. "Behind the scenes, there are countless workers like him, enduring the cold to create these ice and snow wonders for visitors from around the world."

Another standout feature of Northeast China is the warm hospitality of its people, which left a lasting impression on 22-year-old Tan Chau En, a student from Malaysia.

Visiting such a cold region for the first time, Tan had packed plenty of warm clothing. "But when I got here, I didn't even feel the cold because the locals are so warm," she said.

Tan recalled an incident when she was holding a tanghulu, a candied fruit snack, with her phone tucked under her arm. Due to the many layers of clothing she was wearing, she didn't notice when her phone fell while crossing the street. Fortunately, a group of local girls walking behind her noticed and kindly picked it up for her.

Realizing that Tan was an international visitor, the girls started a conversation, asking how she was adjusting to the local weather and food.

"If I were approached like this in other places, I would usually avoid the conversation. But in Harbin, talking to strangers feels natural. People here are open and friendly — they genuinely just want to chat," Tan said.

Verzellino echoed this sentiment. "I'm a foreigner, but I don't feel like a stranger here because the people are so welcoming," she said.

She also noted that food portions in Harbin tend to be quite generous, often encouraging sharing with friends. "In China, food brings people together with family and friends, which is something very similar to Italy," she explained.

"This is one of the most valuable things — being able to share our food, lifestyles, and experiences with others," Verzellino added. "Through these moments, we learn more about ourselves, our countries, and ultimately, we enrich our lives."