Discussion keeps the world turning.
What if a city's biggest asset is winter?
In Harbin, ice isn't just art.
It's the engine of a booming economy.
Today,
we'll go inside the world's largest ice and snow festival to see how a frozen wonderland is creating a red-hot tourist boom.
We're live from our studios in Beijing.
This is Roundtable.
I'm Steve.
Thank you very much for sharing your time with us today.
And for the show, I'm with Youshun and Youshan.
First up...
Today we journey to Harbin in Northeast China,
where the 42nd International Ice and Snow Festival has just opened its gates on January 5th of 2026.
This legendary winter spectacle transforms the city into a frozen art gallery of breathtaking sculptures and glittering snow creations.
But beyond the visual wonder lies an economic powerhouse that revitalizes the region,
fuels countless businesses, and attracts a global audience.
We're going to explore how a festival of ice and snow has melted into the heart of the local economy,
generating billions in revenue and warming up international tourism like never before.
And to say that it is an international event really is a true statement,