nov/dec <strong>2013</strong> | TA 77
THE SWING Black Dragon River Go north, slant east. In China, heading upwards in that prescribed manner would surely lead you to Heilongjiang province, all OF 460,000 square kilometrEs and steadily growing in popularity as a holiday getaway. With Mongolia to its west, Jilin to the south and Russia in the northeast, the notable province had historically been a major European gateway. Jafri M explores its natural beauty. photographS CLUB MED YABULI s u m m e r h o l i d a y – Literally translated as ‘Black Dragon River’, Heilongjiang sees temperatures averaging from 18C to 23C during summertime in mid-year. <strong>The</strong> province, generally flatter in the interior areas, is known for its rich diversity of wildlife including deer, bears, pheasants, hares, squirrels, badgers, and wild boars, especially in lush areas like Yabuli. Indeed, in the early 1990s, the Chinese government upgraded the protection of much of Yabuli to National Park status, with sustainable development a major criteria of all resort plans, like disallowing tree culling and mining. Summer attractions in Heilongjiang include picturesque nature spots and lakes to explore like the Fujin National Forest Park, Zhaolin Park and Sun Island. Golfers often head for sprawling courses like the Harbin International Golf Club and Heilongjiang Xudong Golf Club. <strong>The</strong> former is the first golf club in Heilongjiang province, set up in 1999, and offers a 43-acre, nine-hole, par 36 layout with a golf practicing hall and ski park that opens in winter. <strong>The</strong> Heilongjiang Xudong Golf Club, started in 2000, is located in Pingshan Town of Acheng District in Harbin. Only an hour’s drive from downtown Harbin, the 494-acre, par 72, 18-hole course is set on hilly terrain amid eight lakes. Open in summer, it is closed during winter where, as the first golf course constructed on a snowfield in Asia, it serves as an excellent ski resort as well. w i n t e r w o n d e r l a n d – Heilongjiang’s winters are extremely long and cold, with temperatures ranging from -15C to -30C. Seasonal attractions in the area include ski festivals, winter swimming, sculpture competitions, and stunning ice lantern displays. <strong>The</strong> month-long Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival is dedicated to the fascinating art of ice sculpture and is always popular with locals and tourists. <strong>The</strong> ski season kicks off in <strong>Nov</strong>ember and stretches to April. <strong>The</strong> Yabuli area, while relatively unknown in the West, is widely hailed in China as an especially picturesque area often used for movie location shoots. Yabuli also hosted the 2009 <strong>Winter</strong> Universiade. In fact, the hype in Heilongjiang has been on the upscale Club Med Yabuli. ➢ 78 TA | nov/dec <strong>2013</strong>