Harbin, the Heilongjiang provincial capital, has been turned into an even more spectacular winter wonderland than usual ahead of the 9th Asian Winter Games. PHOTO BY XINHUA

With the combination of Chinese culture and local Heilongjiang flavor presented in a thrilling high-tech way, the opening ceremony of the Harbin Asian Winter Games promises to dazzle with a cool celebration of sporting feats and continental unity.

The ceremony, which starts on Friday night at the Harbin International Conference, Exhibition and Sports Center, will deliver a captivating glimpse of the host city's unique winter charm with Harbin's landmarks, local cultural elements and its winter sports tradition demonstrated in the show, according to the ceremony's creative team.