Kids' tour to Harbin becomes online hit

Eleven children, part of a study tour group from Nanning, capital of the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region in South China, arrive in China's northernmost outpost of Mohe, Heilongjiang province, on Wednesday. The children were dubbed "little oranges", a specialty of Guangxi, by netizens because of the orange down jackets they wore. GUAN WEIHONG/ FOR CHINA DAILY

With its enchanting allure and captivating attractions, Harbin, the picturesque ice city of Heilongjiang province in Northeast China, has become a social media sensation, leaving netizens mesmerized by its myriad splendors.

Among these fascinating sights are a group of 11 charismatic children from Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region in South China, who fearlessly embarked on an educational trip to Harbin, instantly winning the hearts of online communities.

Clad in vibrant orange attire, they are fondly referred to as the "little tangerines", with the oldest just 6 and a half years old, while the youngest only 3 years and 5 months old. The nickname symbolizes both their cute orange outfits and Guangxi's prominent citrus production.

Each day, their enchanting presence is trending on various social media platforms. Wherever they venture, they are warmly embraced and showered with affection by the locals.

In Harbin, they savored the local delicacies, and watched a firework display amid the snowy landscape.

Liang, the lead teacher of their tour, confirmed their arrival in Mohe, a pivotal destination in their educational itinerary. Upon their arrival, the tour group was warmly welcomed by a local travel agency in coordination with the city's tourism bureau.

At the northernmost police outpost of China, they sang the national anthem and saluted the border guards, marking an important part of their educational trip.

Moreover, the police officers at the station prepared snow sculptures and snowmen to treat the "little tangerines".

A parent of one of the children expressed gratitude for the collective support and concern shown by netizens and friends from Northeast China. The use of orange coats worn by the children was chosen by a vote among the parents, primarily for safety reasons. Such gestures of care have provided the parents with peace of mind, allowing them to wholeheartedly embrace the adventure, according to a report by The Cover, a news outlet in Sichuan province.

Following their remarkable online journey, these children have received an invitation from cultural and tourism authorities in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

"Parents are strongly requesting to go to Xinjiang. However, it still needs further discussion", said Liu Ben, organizer of this study tour.

To express gratitude for the hospitality received in Heilongjiang, a free batch of tangerines from Lipu of Guangxi was sent to the province on Thursday.

Data show that Harbin welcomed more than 3 million visitors, raking in 5.9 billion yuan ($830 million) of tourism revenue during the three-day New Year holiday, which ended on Monday.