The First Ice and Snow Tour in Changchun for Chinese, Overseas Chinese and International Tourists and the 2002 Changchun Jingyue Pool Ice and Snow Tourism Festival of China The Opening Ceremony of 2002 Jilin Folk Art Tour and International Rime Festival Time: December 15, 2001 to February 28, 2002 Tolling the Bell at the Jingci Temple, Hangzhou Tolling the Bell at the Longhua Temple 2002 Folk Art Tour-Opening Ceremony for "Touring Hangzhou" Jiangxi Folk Art Festival Harbin Ice and Snow Festival

The First Ice and Snow Tour in Changchun for Chinese, Overseas Chinese and International Tourists and the 2002 Changchun Jingyue Pool Ice and Snow Tourism Festival of China Time: January 1 to February 27 Venue: Changchun City, Jingyue Pool and other places, Jilin Province

The Opening Ceremony of 2002 Jilin Folk Art Tour and International Rime Festival Time: December 15, 2001 to February 28, 2002 Venue: The opening ceremony will be held in Shiji (Century) Square, Jilin City and other activities will be in Jingyuetan Ski Run, Beidahu Ski Run, Changbaishan Ski Run and other nine ski runs at the same time.

Sponsor: People's Government of Jilin Province Organizer: Jilin Tourism Bureau and Jilin City People's Government What's On: Jilin International Rime, Ice and Snow Festival is one of the important tourist festivals in China. Jilin enjoys special favor of geography in skiing. The rime is one of natural wonders in China. Various activities will be held, such as the opening ceremony, international ice sculpture competition, winter swimming competition, mass snow sculpture match, lantern festival on the Songhuajiang River, and tree-root carvings exhibition, People can enjoy snow and ski to their hearts' content here and at the same time they experience the generous and warm heart of people of northeast China.

Tolling the Bell at the Jingci Temple, Hangzhou Time: January 1 every year Venue: Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province What's On: Jingci Temple, south of the West Lake and at the northern foot of Jade Emperor Hill, is one of the four ancient temples around the a West Lake. There is a bronze bell in the temple and the bell rings every evening, one of the 10 tourist attractions near the West Lake. The bell was recast in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), weighing more than 10,000 kg. In recent years, the bell is tolled on the New Year's eve, attracting a lot of Chinese and foreign tourists. The sound of the bell would bring best wishes and happiness to people.

Tolling the Bell at the Longhua Temple Time: December 31, 2001 to January 1, 2002 Venue: Longhua Temple, Shanghai Sponsor: Xuhui District Government of Shanghai Municipality What's On: The Ancient Longhua Temple is the oldest and largest Buddhist temple in Shanghai, and the bell at Longhua Temple has once ranked first among the eight scenic spots of Shanghai. On the New Year's eve both foreign and Chinese tourists gather at the temple to listen to the sound of the bell at midnight to usher in the auspicious New Year. At that time 108 auspicious tourists will toll the bell

together with the abbot of the temple. The echo of the bells brings the best wishes to the people of both sides of the Huangpu River while the visitors here are immersed in a happy and peaceful atmosphere.

2002 Folk Art Tour-Opening Ceremony for "Touring Hangzhou" Time: December 31, 2001 or January 1, 2002 Venue: Song City, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province Sponsor: Leading group of the tourism festival of Hangzhou City What's On: Song City is the first largest Song Dynasty culture theme park in China, reappearing the folk customs of the Song Dynasty (960-1127).

With the Song Dynasty folk art as the theme, various activities, such as the lion dance performance, moon worshipping ceremony, Song-style wedding ceremony, Mei hua zhuang - a kind of Chinese martial arts performance, walking on stilts and some others will be held. At the same time people will taste various local food. "In one day people will experience a thousand years' history." A large evening party of folk songs and dances of the Song Dynasty will be held to end the ceremony.

Jiangxi Folk Art Festival Time: January 10 to16 Venue: Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province Sponsors: Culture Bureau and Tourism Bureau of Jiangxi Province and Nanchang City People's Government Organizers: Culture Bureau, Tourism Bureau and Cultural Ads Company of Nanchang

What's On: The opening ceremony, Jiangxi local opera performance, Jiangxi folk art match, local folk art symposium, Jiangxi handicrafts match and public appraisal of local snacks.

Harbin Ice and Snow Festival Time: Starting from January 5 and lasting for 50 days Venue: Harbin, Heilongjiang Province Sponsor: Harbin People's Government What's On: The first festival of its kind in China, it combines tourism, trade, science, culture, art and sports. It brings vitality to Harbin and people are eager to go there.

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