Jack Ma, the co-founder of Alibaba, was recently spotted in Harbin, marking his first public visit to the city since 2019. Onlookers encountered him in the area around Sophia Cathedral, where he was seen wearing a white hat and a mask, dressed in a simple and casual style.

The reason for Ma's sudden trip to the "Ice City" remains unclear. When contacted by media for comment, the Alibaba official team had not responded as of the time of publication. This visit draws notable attention as it follows his previous high-profile appearance in Harbin in July 2019.

During that earlier trip, Ma led an Alibaba team to visit Harbin Institute of Technology, sampled local specialty agricultural products from Heilongjiang province, and famously purchased a Modern ice cream bar in the rain on Central Street, sparking widespread online buzz. He also stated at the time that "Alibaba Group's investments must pass through Shanhaiguan, with the first battleground being the far northeast, and projects signed with Heilongjiang are expected to yield results soon."