Jack Ma was recently recognized by a passerby while visiting the Saint Sophia Cathedral area in Harbin.

Footage captured by netizens shows Ma wearing a black mask and dressed casually, accompanying a group of people, sparking widespread speculation about his purpose for the trip.

In July 2019, Ma, then Executive Chairman of Alibaba, led the company's team to Harbin, visiting universities, signing agreements, and vowing that "Alibaba Group's investment will cross the Shanhai Pass, with the first battle in the Northeast, and the projects signed with Heilongjiang will see results soon."