Recently, Harbin has become a hot topic due to its viral memes such as “southern potato” and “potato princess”, as well as its ice and snow festivals and cultural heritage. 

On January 5th, “little potato pendant” became the top search online. According to Yingxiang News, on January 4th, a woman posted a video claiming that she saw a little potato pendant on Central Street in Harbin, which was round and cute, and cost about 15 yuan each. Netizens praised Harbin for its quick response and creativity.

According to the official WeChat account of “Harbin Culture and Tourism”, the Harbin tourism market continued to be hot during the 2024 New Year’s Day holiday. Data showed that as of the third day of the New Year holiday, Harbin had received 3.0479 million tourists, generating a total tourism revenue of 5.914 billion yuan. The number of tourists and total tourism revenue reached a historical high.

On January 2nd, He Jing, a government official of Heilongjiang Province, said in an interview with CCTV News that the popularity of Harbin this winter was not accidental, but was the result of a year of preparation.

In addition, the Southern Metropolis Daily published an article stating that Harbin’s “out-of-circle” phenomenon allowed the northeast region to boost its service industry, improve its business environment, and clarify its government responsibilities.

Although the popularity of Harbin may fade away with the melting of ice and snow, if the spirit behind this wave of “wealth and prosperity” can be picked up, the northeast has a good chance of finding a way to revitalize.