The Mazaalai International Snow and Ice Festival ran from January 14 to 28 at Sky Resort, a golf and ski resort on the outskirts of Ulaanbaatar. On the opening day, 408 participants took turns sliding down a 16.4-meter-long ice slide, setting a Guinness World Record for "the most people sliding down an ice slope in one hour." Guinness officials were also present to verify the event.
Mongolia sets Guinness record at ice and snow festival
Mongolian Culture Minister Nomin Chinbat said this year's ice and snow festival "marks a milestone in the development of Mongolia's winter tourism industry." The head of the Ministry of Culture believes that for half a month, visitors will be fascinated by the country's winter landscape and the ice sculptures on display. Mongolia hopes that through the event and the Guinness World Record-setting event, the country will become an international winter destination.
Other attractions at the festival include a 5-meter-high Gobi bear sculpture made of ice and snow, a 56.4-meter-long ice sculpture, and a large ice rink. On January 17, the festival held the Mazaalai International Ice Competition, with 24 artists from 6 countries including China, Thailand, France, Russia, the United States and the host country.
Renowned for its beautiful open spaces, lush green valleys and traditional nomadic culture, Mongolia has long been considered a top destination to visit during the summer months, according to CNN. The snow and ice festival is being held by the government in a bid to attract tourists to Mongolia for a true winter experience.
Panorama of the ice and snow festival in Mongolia
According to many travel experts, one of the reasons tourists hesitate to visit Mongolia in winter is because it is too cold. The capital Ulaanbaatar is often among the coldest cities in the world, with January temperatures averaging between minus 15 and minus 30 degrees Celsius. In the north of the country, temperatures can be even colder. Meanwhile, flights to some remote areas of the country do not operate during the winter months.
However, traveling to Mongolia at this time has many advantages including cheaper hotel and tour prices, impressive snow-covered landscapes. In early March, Mongolia also holds the annual Khuvsgul Lake Ice Festival to attract tourists.
Artists create ice sculptures during the festival.
Culture Minister Chinbat said the Mazaalai International Snow and Ice Festival "is part of the government's goal to celebrate the effort to welcome 1 million international visitors." In 2019, before the pandemic, Mongolia welcomed 637,000 international visitors, according to the World Bank. Currently, Mongolia has implemented many measures to attract visitors, in addition to organizing festivals, such as opening more direct flights, expanding the list of countries with visa exemptions applicable until the end of 2025. Vietnam and Mongolia signed a visa exemption agreement on November 1, 2023.
TH (according to VnExpress)Source
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