How to view the incident where tourists couldn't ride the slides at Harbin Ice and Snow World, and the subsequent apology from Harbin Ice and Snow World?

As a native of Harbin, let me answer this.

Compared to Disneyland, Harbin Ice and Snow World (or, using its ancient name, the “Ice Lantern Festival”) has many differences. Frankly speaking, Disneyland excels in creating a captivating atmosphere. When you enter Disneyland, you are immediately immersed in a delightful ambiance. Most of Disneyland’s theme parks are located in warm cities. During the scorching summer, you wait in queues under shaded canopies, with fans and misting systems to keep you cool. There are also numerous screens and music to help alleviate impatience. Moreover, there are estimates of how long you’ll have to wait at the entrance. In short, waiting in line at Disneyland can be annoying, but they have taken many measures to make the experience more pleasant for queueing visitors.

The primary issue with Harbin Ice and Snow World is the cold. It is situated in the northern part of the city, where temperatures drop significantly. The ice lanterns, while magnificent from a distance, appear quite rough up close. The illumination at Harbin Ice and Snow World during the evening is average, and many areas are rather dark. Visitors from out of town may find the overall experience somewhat ordinary. It doesn’t quite match the breathtaking view you get from a drone’s perspective of the Ice Lantern Festival.

The highlight of Harbin Ice and Snow World every year is a massive, towering, and steep ice slide. This tradition has been around since the 1980s, at least as far as I can remember. Whenever I went there as a child, I would always see a long line at that giant ice slide. I queued for many years, and to be honest, the experience was mediocre. One hour in line for a five-minute slide, and if you didn’t slide, there wasn’t much else to do.

The truth is, local Harbin residents don’t go to see the ice lanterns very often, at least not in my memory. When tourists visit Harbin, seeing the ice lanterns is a must, as it’s a signature attraction of the city. However, there is still room for improvement in the Ice Lantern Festival. For instance, they could introduce more interactive activities, enhance various facilities (including transportation, lighting, resting areas, food, and ground conditions), add more interactive shows, and introduce food stalls, instead of just viewing lanterns. From this perspective, there are many more things to do.

So, all in all, I believe that for an out-of-town visitor, based on my last visit about three or four years ago, the entire experience at Harbin Ice and Snow World can be quite “challenging.” Firstly, transportation isn’t as convenient. Then, there’s a dark walk from the parking lot to the park area. Once inside, apart from admiring the ice lanterns, there isn’t much else to do. So, waiting in long queues in a dark place, feeling extremely cold throughout the process, and not being able to use your phone comfortably due to the extreme cold can make the entire experience less enjoyable than Disneyland. After waiting for two hours, shivering in the darkness, not knowing how much longer the wait will be, it can be quite disheartening. From this perspective, I can understand why some visitors demand refunds.

I think the Harbin government’s handling of the situation is commendable. They are right to offer refunds. Tourists who come to Harbin are our guests, and there’s no need to argue with guests over such matters. If guests have a bad experience, providing compensation is only fair. Many people expressing dissatisfaction with Harbin Ice and Snow World is, in my opinion, a good thing. When others voice their concerns, it’s a sign of goodwill, and the host shouldn’t take it personally or react negatively.

That being said, I hope Harbin Ice and Snow World can put in more effort to refine and offer more entertainment options. If they aim higher, the fundamental issue lies in the need to improve the existing model, which is somewhat crude but still enthusiastic. For example, with an influx of 40,000 people, nobody would be happy. Reservation systems and scientifically determined maximum capacity limits are necessary and are solutions that have been devised by others who faced similar issues and operate successfully. We should learn from them. However, overall, the Harbin government’s handling of the situation makes me proud.

Harbin Ice and Snow World has always had low ratings as a tourist attraction, belonging to the kind of place where you go once, feel it’s not worth it, but still feel compelled to visit.

I’ve been there once, and there were both pleasant surprises and disappointments. It’s indeed quite visually stunning, but I finished seeing everything in just over ten minutes. When I visited, there were also unfinished projects on-site, and all the fun activities required long waits in queues, which I eventually gave up on. This made me quite uncomfortable, especially considering that the tickets are not cheap. It looks good, but after spending a few hundred yuan on a ticket and having it all end in about fifteen minutes, I have no desire to return.

On the other hand, from the perspective of the attraction, the construction costs are quite high. Even if you haven’t been there, you’ve probably seen videos, and you can be sure it’s not as simple as just having “natural ice.” If they lower ticket prices, it won’t cover the costs.

I think they could adjust their pricing policies, offering different ticket options such as combo tickets, daytime tickets, and evening tickets, with evening tickets being more expensive. Combo tickets could allow visitors to choose whether to include access to specific major attractions, ensuring at least one is included. Otherwise, it would only be an admission ticket, which should be priced higher. Additionally, they could introduce a VIP service that allows visitors to skip queues, reserving the best slides for them. They shouldn’t be complacent; the service industry in Northeast China should be more proactive.

They could also build more dining areas, which would increase revenue and provide warmth to visitors, thereby extending their stay at the attraction. Introducing indoor entertainment areas, offering activities like petting dogs for free, charging for photographs with them, and allowing visitors to feed them could be worthwhile. I once saw a huge and handsome dog on Harbin’s main street, perhaps an Alaskan Malamute? It looked like the wolves you used to see in World of Warcraft.

Furthermore, they should find ways to improve the comfort of queuing. Addressing the issue of long, boring, and cold waits, even if it means having some entertainment like a carousel or offering karaoke sessions. Harbin is not short of good-looking people or artistic atmosphere. The park is extensive, but the entertainment options are limited.

I’ve dined at an affordably priced pancake restaurant in Harbin with excellent service, and I believe Harbin has the potential to elevate the Ice and Snow World experience.

I recommend establishing a VIP channel, with separate queues for regular tickets and VIPs. Additionally, offer a fast-track option for an extra fee, ensuring a slide experience within 5 minutes.

Before entering the park, check visitors' down jacket labels. Remove any labels that haven’t been removed to prevent them from getting caught on the slide midway.

During security checks, require backpacks to be opened. Prohibit the use of personal hand warmers; they can only be purchased within the park for 50 yuan each.

Create a mascot named ‘Ice Biscuit,’ emphasizing aesthetics over talents. Develop a mascot fan culture to boost peripheral consumption, turning fans into enthusiastic supporters.

The current public opinion trend regarding this incident is almost entirely sympathetic and supportive of Harbin Ice and Snow World.

The emergence of such a situation can only be described as a natural reaction to an extreme state of affairs.

In recent years, the negative stereotypes about the northeastern region have stirred up public outrage.

The widespread support for Harbin Ice and Snow World on the internet can be seen as a spontaneous response from people across the country.

This phenomenon only serves to prove one point, which is that the righteous receive support while the unrighteous stand alone.

Negative regional stereotypes have placed themselves in opposition to the people.

How should we evaluate the events of December 18th, the opening day of the 25th Harbin Ice and Snow World, where visitors protested and demanded refunds due to excessively long queues for attractions like the ice slide?

Let me update this and thank everyone for the extensive exchange of opinions. I’d like to add a few points.

From the comments, it’s interesting to note that:

In my response, it’s quite clear to perceptive individuals that I’m trying to mediate and promote harmony. However, some local IP addresses accused me of being overly accommodating and sycophantic.

Conversely, some non-local IP addresses accused me of taking sides and wondered why they couldn’t express negative opinions.

These accusations are unfounded because I have consistently emphasized the inadequacy of Harbin Ice and Snow World’s preparations and the issues with their services. I have been advocating for constructive criticism.

I’ve consistently maintained that Harbin Ice and Snow World faces unique challenges due to its location, and I’ve encouraged understanding and support rather than sycophancy.

This indicates that many people’s emotions are still unstable at the moment. Without emotional stability, it’s challenging to resolve the issue satisfactorily.

Regarding some of the questions in the comments, here are my thoughts:

1. I have never mentioned Southern people in my responses. I only mentioned ‘Southern’ once in the context of praising Southern service. I cannot discern regional accents from the word ‘refund,’ so I never claimed that those demanding refunds were from the South.
2. I haven’t stated that it’s right for tourists to demand refunds, nor have I discouraged criticism. Throughout my response, I’ve consistently pointed out service deficiencies and customer dissatisfaction.
3. Some Northeastern locals have stated that Northeastern people value equality for all. I understand this as their perception that I believe service personnel are inferior to customers. Equality for all should not be misused. It refers to equality in terms of human dignity and personal rights and responsibilities. If a customer insults someone’s dignity, and I advocate for the customer, that would be irrational. However, this discussion has not escalated to that level. We’re all discussing the matter at hand.
4. Let me share my view on requesting refunds. I don’t think it’s necessary. Life is full of disappointments; your mindset is crucial. If you think positively, the path ahead will naturally widen.
5. Harbin Ice and Snow World has already taken proactive steps to rectify the situation. They’ve apologized where needed and offered refunds. Overreacting to this situation isn’t helpful. If you don’t like it, you can choose not to forgive and not to return, but there’s no need to hold onto grievances.
6. As an outsider, I hope this issue can be resolved quickly, and the heated discussion subsides. I fear it might impact Harbin’s winter tourism. This is especially crucial for those in the tourism industry. Why would they curse the tourists online? Consider the motivations of those who keep fueling the fire.
7. In reality, requesting refunds isn’t a rare occurrence; it happens all over the place. It’s a common occurrence. Blowing it out of proportion clearly involves outside agitation.

Finally, I’d like to mention something unrelated: emotional stability is one of the most valuable qualities in adults. I hope everyone possesses it, and I encourage you all in this regard.

Original Response:

As a proud resident of Harbin, I’d like to clarify that my response is not directed at those who purchase down jackets, wear them for an outing, and then return them within seven days without a valid reason. I cannot comprehend such behavior; it’s not a type of behavior I condone.

Firstly, when tourists visit, as we say in Northeastern China, they are honoring us, and we should reciprocate in kind. Northeastern people are known for this kind of hospitality - you respect me a foot, I’ll respect you a yard. Harbin Ice and Snow World should be well-prepared to receive guests from all over. However, we didn’t expect such an enthusiastic response.

Originally, the trial operation was scheduled for the 18th, and many friends said they couldn’t make it and would just take pictures outside the gate. Consequently, since there were so many such friends, they decided to open on the 17th. This was already quite surprising, but on the 18th at noon, the Ice and Snow World announced that they had sold 40,000 tickets, and there were too many people in the park. To ensure the quality of the experience, they stopped selling tickets. This is definitely a first in history.

It can be said that everyone was caught off guard, especially the staff; they had never seen anything like it.

For those who couldn’t get into the show, became increasingly agitated, and were emotionally charged, the situation was terrifying for the staff. Opening the gate could lead to trampling, but not opening it would lead to complaints. I believe they had a plan in place, but the actual situation far exceeded their expectations.

From this perspective, I don’t think there was a significant problem with the Ice and Snow World’s handling of the situation.

However, it’s perfectly understandable that tourists were dissatisfied.

To be honest, on such cold days, I don’t even have the idea of going to the bathhouse downstairs in my apartment complex. These friends spent several hours outside; they were genuinely enthusiastic. They weren’t there to cause trouble. It’s unnecessary to create conflicts, especially life-threatening ones.

Some people may wonder why there are no complaints at Disneyland or Universal Studios, where people also wait in long lines. To answer this question properly is the key to improving the upper limit of Harbin tourism.

Is it because people are afraid to cause trouble at Disneyland? Certainly not. Disneyland security personnel don’t dare to use force, and Disneyland doesn’t have an army. Therefore, there must be differences between Disneyland and Harbin Ice and Snow World. These differences are why Disneyland is world-class, and visitors feel it’s worth every penny, while some people find Ice and Snow World’s tickets expensive.

Regrettably, I haven’t been to Disneyland or Ice and Snow World, so I can’t make a direct comparison. Let me share my experience in Beijing during the May 1st holiday. Going to Beijing during the May 1st holiday means crowds, even more than at Ice and Snow World. However, in Beijing, people wait in lines without losing their temper. Why? There is an abundance of staff. Security personnel, volunteers, community workers

Was I ever refunded the toll fees by the highway when I was stuck on the expressway?

Refunds and apology letters demonstrate the magnanimity and open-mindedness of Northeastern people. We hope that a very small number of individuals will not take advantage of this and act as if our acknowledgment of fault is sufficient.

I went to a restaurant to have a meal, and I wasn’t satisfied with the dessert. I requested a refund, and the restaurant also apologized. What is your opinion on this?

Is it possible that the current questions are avoiding the core issue and ignoring it? If a tourist has spent ample time inside but mistakenly believes the waiting time is too long and demands a full refund, I also firmly do not understand. However, all the issues I encountered while playing on the 18th for 3 hours have not been responded to by anyone or any posts. There has been no explanation or compensation. All these posts make me wonder what I did wrong. Specifically:

1. The Harbin Ice Show, with two shows a day, I entered at 4 pm and managed to get a 6 pm session. We started lining up at 5:30 pm, and during the wait, everyone was demanding an explanation and no one responded. There were multiple instances of crowding and shoving, even to the point where the queue poles were trampled to the ground. The crowd surged to the tightly locked gate and began pushing the door. There was no guidance, management, or explanation during this time. Fortunately, there was no stampede. We were waiting outdoors until 6:15, and then a staff member finally appeared in front of the line to explain the cancellation for the day. Later, we learned that the 4 pm session had also been canceled. Most of the tourists waited until almost 5 pm, only to find out about the cancellation. The on-site broadcast stated, ‘Harbin Ice Show reservations are full, please enjoy other activities.’ Why was the first session canceled, and why was the broadcast’s statement still so unclear? There has been no explanation or clarification to this day.

2. My friend and I managed to get a 6:15 slot for the ice slide. When we went to line up, we were told that because there was no on-site management, even if you didn’t have a reservation, you could still play. This led to excessive waiting times for the slide, even if you had a reservation, requiring more than 3 hours of waiting. If it was communicated in advance that reservations were not needed and on-site queues were allowed, I would understand that it was a personal choice not to wait for so long in the cold. However, after setting location restrictions and requiring entry into the park to make reservations, we still set alarms and repeatedly searched for a network every 15 minutes, freezing in the process. We managed to make reservations only after four rounds, but there was no management or guarantee, so we ultimately chose not to wait in line.

3. The progress of park construction is quite evident; there is still a long way to go. Things like the skiing experience marked on the map are still barren. On-site sanitation, security, and ground paving are all chaotic (I have taken photos of all of this).

In the end, the three of us left Harbin Ice and Snow World in disappointment, and when I checked social media later, we were heavily criticized. Even if Harbin Ice and Snow World could respond positively to any of the points I mentioned above, I would have let it go. However, various posts and official statements have been ambiguous and lenient. I called the park’s complaint and suggestion hotline yesterday, and one said the phone was ‘not online,’ and the other said the ‘complaint and suggestion channel was not open.’ Now, when I see similar content, I speed through it to avoid affecting my mood. What did we do wrong? Aren’t we the ones who should be tolerant?

They will bully their own kind, honest people.

In Disneyland, even if you can’t get on the ride you want to play, you don’t see anyone demanding a refund.

That thing is designed for out-of-town tourists.

Out-of-town tourists must have a good time.

Their purpose is to experience,

To fully and deeply experience.

So, this requirement must be met, every popular attraction should be accessible to them, so they don’t feel it’s a wasted trip.

The weather this year is abnormal, with fluctuations between cold and hot. Building a large amusement park like this in Harbin is not easy. In the eyes of locals, there are many other core attractions in Harbin that are better than this one. It’s not what locals and Northeasterners pay much attention to.

But people come from afar, thousands of miles away, just to check it off their list.

Nowadays, tourism is not about satisfying tourists' desires based on your target; it’s about meeting their requirements. Demanding tourists are good tourists because they know what the best parts of a tourist spot are and they point out the hotspots with their actions.

This is a good thing, at least everyone is paying attention to this matter, and it has attracted national attention.

It may not bring unimaginable wealth, but at least it’s bringing in money. Local people, especially those nearby, probably won’t even go in for free.

First of all, Ice and Snow World itself was poorly planned.

They didn’t consider the threshold of how many visitors they could handle and serve well, and they let in 40,000 people on the first day.

Although the ice sculptures in Ice and Snow World are already “worth the ticket price,” tourists have various demands. You can’t expect everyone to understand you and be satisfied with just admiring the ice sculptures. The problem now is that people want to play on the slides, ride the Ferris wheel, and watch the ice and snow show, but you didn’t arrange it properly. It’s your mistake.

What’s so hard to understand?

Personally, I hope the organizers of Ice and Snow World can be more open-minded and diverse.

Harbin has so much local culture. Besides dancing and clubbing on the big stage, you can also have Yangge dance, sketch comedy, stand-up comedy, elegant symphonies, ballroom dancing, Russian-style performances by Russian boys and girls, and the kangsuo culture of Northeastern villages. You can bring all of these into Ice and Snow World. If you want to be a tourist attraction, you have to have unique features and activities. We have that advantage, right?

Nowadays, there are only a few popular attractions, and you even need to make reservations in advance to play. After finally making a reservation and waiting in line for a long time, you find that those who didn’t make reservations can still play. Come on, even locals feel it’s very cold with temperatures below -20 degrees, and they have to wait in line for several hours. Can tourists from the south endure this?

It’s normal to have emotions. If you were in their shoes, you would feel the same!

Customers are like gods, and the service industry relies on them to make a living, right?

In fact, there are ways to solve this issue at Ice and Snow World.

They could implement crowd control, or limit the number of tickets sold in a single day. Once the tickets are sold out, everyone who comes can enjoy the attractions, but if you didn’t get a ticket, you’ll have to come back another day.

However, so many enthusiastic tourists come from afar just to see the Ice and Snow Kingdom. Their time for enjoyment is limited. Doing this may disappoint some visitors who couldn’t get in. Alternatively, they could sell tickets for different time slots, such as morning, afternoon, and evening sessions, each with different charges.

This way, tourists can choose to capture photos and explore in the morning with frosty mist and sunlight on a snowy landscape. In the afternoon, groups of friends can play together, experiencing the ice city’s charm and enjoying the ice and snow culture. Or they can have a wild and lively night in the sea of ice and snow.

But Ice and Snow World simply doesn’t want to disappoint tourists from the south. They want everyone to see the ice sculptures and snowscapes of Northeast Harbin and experience the local ice and snow culture. Their enthusiasm led to diverse demands, and the response was hasty. We apologize for this!

Actually, the program of tourists demanding refunds has been around for a long time. Similar incidents have occurred in places like Wuhan Happy Valley and Taihang Mountains in Shanxi.

But what I never expected was that the organizers of Ice and Snow World actually refunded the tickets. This is truly breaking new ground in China’s tourism industry.

I haven’t heard of any other attraction where you can play, wander, shoot videos, post on your social media, and still get your money back in the end. Even People’s Daily commented on Ice and Snow World this time: Faced with unhappy tourists, Ice City did its best!

Although I feel a bit uncomfortable, the leaders of the tourism bureau rushed to the scene, Ice and Snow World publicly apologized, and the park was reformed overnight. This proves that from top to bottom, Harbin genuinely wants to show sincerity and give everyone enough respect.

Fundamentally, it’s just one sentence: everything else is trivial. Wherever it’s not good, you say it, we’ll make changes, and come back next year!

This is such a moving response and answer sheet. Originally, this handling is textbook-like.

But some people? It’s like their brains have frozen because of the cold weather!

I just don’t understand, are these people stupid or malicious?

Are they resentful of southern tourists coming to “make trouble,” or do they want to disrupt Harbin’s tourism industry?

Are they “protective” or just troublemakers?

Do you really need to insult tourists like this?

Love coming or not, welcome or not, get lost, and all kinds of attacks and criticisms.

Do you feel better after venting?

You know you don’t like being attacked based on your region, so why become the kind of person you hate the most and tarnish Harbin’s reputation? There are many ways to support Ice and Snow World, and you’ve chosen the worst and most foolish way!

Tourists who come to Harbin are not indebted to us. They come here with real money to support Harbin’s tourism industry. Shouldn’t we provide them with a good experience?

If they have a bad experience and can’t even voice their opinions, are we running a shady business here?

People who open businesses are being criticized and they have to stand up. Why do you, these embarrassing individuals, come out and provoke conflict?

Visitors from the south are part of the masses, compatriots, and relatives, not enemies!

Among the masses, there may be some bad people, but it doesn’t mean that everyone is bad. I hope our local friends can be more sensible and not blindly follow the trend. Treat southern tourists kindly.

They come here to play and contribute to the economic development of Heilongjiang and Harbin. What you should do is show gratitude and hospitality, not spread negativity online.

Finally, sincere thanks to southern tourists for coming to Harbin to play. I hope Harbin can bring you wonderful memories. Coming here is about having a good time, so don’t pay too much attention to those unpleasant comments. We shouldn’t argue with fools.

Having a good time is what matters. I hope to see you again next year!

Ice and Snow World is also confused. It originally created ice and snow landscapes to attract you to take photos and share on social media, but how did you end up actually playing there?

The right way to enjoy a cold region should be soaking in hot springs or bathhouses. After getting warm, you can go out to take a few pictures of the ice and snow landscapes to cool down, and then come back to soak in a hot bath, edit your photos, and share them on social media. It’s so comfortable. Who told you to go and play for real?

In China, almost every slightly better snack, tourist attraction, shopping mall (like Parkson), and everything else…

Are always crowded with people.

What does this indicate?

It indicates that there are too many not-so-good options…

Why do we have to take guests to well-reputed restaurants?

Why do we choose popular tourist destinations when traveling?

Why do people who have been to places like Parkson find their local supermarkets so disappointing??

Isn’t this all quite obvious?

Usually, they boast about being so rich, but when they come to Harbin, not only do they enter tourist attractions for free, but they also demand refunds and then stay at the attractions to party. They even shamelessly take free down jackets and cotton shoes. It’s like they’re carrying forward the fine tradition of using paper shells to paint and disguise shoes during the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Look:

What are the recommended tourist attractions in Hangzhou?

This is my response after visiting West Lake and complaining about the Hangzhou Tourism Department:

“This season, we should have been enjoying the beautiful scenery of ‘Jiuxi Smoke and Trees.’ But I heard that there is now a toll booth on the road to Jiuxi, and pedestrians are specifically blocked. You need to make a reservation to enter.

They even have shuttle buses, charging 5 yuan for one stop. I have to admit, the people of Hangzhou really know how to make money from a free scenic area.”

Here, I want to apologize sincerely: I was wrong. I underestimated it, but the Hangzhou government is far-sighted.

The vast West Lake doesn’t charge an entrance fee, but a toll booth has been set up on the necessary road to the “Jiuxi Smoke and Trees” scenic area without walls. They block pedestrians and require reservations for entry. Is this really just to make money from the scenic area shuttle buses, charging 5 yuan for one stop and 8 yuan for two?

After witnessing the chaos at Harbin Ice and Snow World, I understand now.

First, the reservation system can control the number of tourists. People like me, with a family in tow, are directly discouraged.

Moreover, there are indeed other beautiful scenes around West Lake that can replace it, and my mom and I had a great time.

Second, setting up scenic area shuttle buses to speed up tourist visits and quickly depart after touring is also aimed at controlling the number of tourists in the scenic area.

The weather was very cold that day. But the “Hang’er Feng” (Hangzhou people’s tendency to follow trends) is unstoppable.

Hang’er Feng Hangzhou Dialect

“Hang’er Feng” in Hangzhou dialect means “following the trend” in Chinese. It reflects the Hangzhou people’s tendency to join in or follow the crowd in whatever they do. It is particularly evident in shopping, leisure, and following consumer trends.

The Hangzhou Tourism Department understands this very well and has come up with a clever move for this trending scenic area.

Kudos!

First, praise for Harbin Ice and Snow World, shining a light on Northeast China!

“Profound reflection on poor service and overnight rectification” - what happened on December 18th didn’t go unnoticed, and the very next day, they publicly apologized. This sets a great example for the Northeast and firmly rebuts regional criticisms.

People’s Hot Comments: The sincerity of Harbin Ice and Snow World deserves praise.

Immediate implementation of three rectification measures

First, starting today, entertainment attractions in the park will implement on-site queuing and delayed service methods, with queue information prompts, and provide reminders for timed and segmented playing to meet the needs of visitors.

Second, the park will increase security, reception, and volunteer service personnel, bolstering the service strength at points with high visitor traffic to provide visitors with order maintenance, inquiry guidance, and other considerate services.

Third, the park will establish a complaint reception service desk and increase customer service personnel, setting up a complaint service hotline at 400-639-1999. It will handle and resolve visitor complaints both online and offline, earnestly accepting supervision from a large number of visitors.

Not just an apology, but concrete actions in place

Initially, I was worried that a mere apology wouldn’t lead to concrete actions regarding “ticket refunds.” But there really were measures taken:

“A detail is that, in response to visitors' requests for ticket refunds, on the same day (December 18th), some visitors have already received refunds.”

In response, some netizens said that the ticket refund incident at Harbin Ice and Snow World is a “parting gift” from Harbin to all the departing visitors, and it’s called “tolerance.” This comparison is refreshing, and receiving this “parting gift,” I believe relevant visitors will have a different experience and will undoubtedly attract more tourists to experience the warmth of the ice and snow in Harbin.

Profound implications

It can be said that Harbin Ice and Snow World’s sincere and rapid response, optimizing the cultural and tourism environment with practical actions, improving visitor expectations, not only shapes a good image but also creates an admirable cultural and tourism brand. This will attract more people to visit Harbin.

The more attentive the service, the more heartfelt the visitors' experience. With collective efforts, the cultural and tourism industry is bound to see greater development.

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Objectively speaking, Harbin Ice and Snow World still has room for improvement in terms of operational precision, and risk control hasn’t been thorough enough.

I think perhaps the motivation for profit isn’t strong enough, and the methods aren’t sophisticated. Look at what’s most profitable for Disney and Universal Studios? VIP and Express Passes!

First, no refunds; second, no apologies.

In this era, admitting mistakes is like seeking death, and subsequent regional criticisms will come rushing in like mad dogs.

In the age of photo ops, ice sculptures are genuinely outstanding attractions. In the realm of public opinion, you need to branch out and divert attention in various directions.

Creating a few excellent yet low-intelligence stories is more important than making tourists happy.

Spending some money to hire a few beautiful internet celebrities, following the path of Little Red Book, is invincible.

After all, the tourists traveling on Monday are basically college students, young ladies, freeloaders, and offspring of the nouveau riche.

Qingdao has a red wall, Yantai has a lazy whale stuck in the sand on the beach. Anyone with clear eyes knows that these things are nothing compared to ice sculptures, but it doesn’t stop people from following the trend and taking photos.

Give up on profits, give up on enthusiasm, tell good stories, and make good articles. Abandon official endorsements and follow the vulgar yet efficient propaganda route.

I’m worried about the local cultural and tourism industry. I’ve never been this anxious before. It’s just too foolish.

As for the topic, if we arrange the projects at the Ice and Snow World according to the core concept,

A. Ice Sculptures, Snow Sculptures

B. Indoor Performances

C. Ferris Wheel, Ice Slides, and other amusement projects

It should be AAAAAAAAAACB.

From childhood to adulthood, my understanding of the core concept of the Ice and Snow World has always been to showcase the art of ice and snow sculptures because Harbin is unique in this regard worldwide. The Ferris wheel, ice slides, and the indoor entertainment are all there to “serve” the viewing of ice and snow sculptures. Beyond the Ice and Snow World, there are plenty of ice slide attractions, but there’s no second place with this scale of ice-built architectural complex. If all the attention is given to the Ferris wheel and ice slides at the Ice and Snow World, it’s like going to a feast and only eating steamed buns, rolls, rice, and noodles while completely ignoring the exquisite dishes on the table. A meal without a main course can be considered incomplete, but should the dishes on the table be ignored completely?

In my perception, the way to experience the Ice and Snow World (2003-2015) was to enter the park in the afternoon when there was still sunlight to see the snow sculptures because the lighting in the evening, after dark, created a completely different visual effect compared to the daytime. Before it got dark, you could visit the areas with ice sculptures that were not yet lit up or the standalone ice sculptures (not all ice sculptures had lighting). After it got dark, you could go and see the illuminated ice sculpture areas. The ice slides and ice sleds were activities you would do to take a break when you got tired of looking at sculptures; they were never the primary destinations.

If you view the Ice and Snow World as an ice and snow amusement park or a winter carnival, I can only express my regret from my perspective, because the main attraction here is not the relatively new Ferris wheel or the ever-expanding ice slides, but the annually updated theme ice and snow buildings. Everyone has their own aesthetic and value judgments; if you don’t like it, please don’t hurt it.

I choose to visit Harbin in the summer and go to the southern seaside in the winter. I am a typical southerner, and when I was younger, I once traveled to the northeast in winter, which was quite adventurous.