China’s ice and snow tourism enters sustained growth phase

China’s ice and snow tourism industry is entering “a new phase of sustained prosperity,” with a record 14,075 related businesses operating nationwide by the end of 2025, according to a report released Monday by the China Tourism Academy (CTA). This trend is highlighted in a special in-depth story from China news agency Xinhua.

The report was unveiled at the Ice and Snow Tourism Development Forum 2026 in Harbin, in northeast China, and attributes the sector’s rapid expansion to a wave of innovative tourism offerings. These include ice sculpting experiences, ice and snow photography, and themed winter travel products rolled out across the country. Flagship attractions such as Harbin Ice-Snow World and the Changbai Mountain ski resort have played a central role in driving growth and visibility.

CTA researcher Han Yuanjun said these innovations have helped maintain strong consumer demand. A recent CTA survey found that 74.8 percent of respondents plan to participate in ice- and snow-related leisure activities during the 2025–2026 winter season, while 50.5 percent expect to travel long distances specifically for winter tourism.

Han also noted a shift in spending patterns. Travelers are moving away from traditional “hard costs” such as transportation and lodging and toward “soft spending” on entertainment, cultural experiences, and technology-driven attractions. This trend reflects an upgrade in both the quality and structure of China’s winter tourism market.

The report highlighted rapidly rising demand for indoor ice and snow entertainment, particularly in southern China. Investment in the sector reached about $4.2 billion in 2025, representing roughly 30 percent of the national total. Indoor ice and snow complexes have become a major investment focus, helping generate year-round tourism demand beyond the winter season.

Liu Huaxiang, another CTA researcher and an associate professor at Hangzhou Normal University, said China has built a relatively complete industrial chain around ice and snow tourism, spanning culture, sports, and equipment manufacturing.

She added that domestically produced skis, snowboards, and snow-grooming vehicles are gaining traction overseas through cross-border e-commerce, opening new channels for international cooperation and industrial growth.

China is positioning the ice and snow economy as a key engine for development and consumption. The sector’s total value is expected to reach about $167 billion by 2027 and approximately $208 billion by 2030.

At the recent Central Economic Work Conference, authorities emphasized the need to “expand the supply of high-quality goods and services,” and industry experts are forecasting a more dynamic winter tourism market this season.

On Monday January 5, 2026 Harbin officially opened its 42nd Ice and Snow Festival at Harbin Ice-Snow World, the world’s largest ice and snow theme park and the city’s signature tourist attraction. During the recent three-day New Year holiday, Harbin welcomed more than 4.1 million visitors, who spent an estimated $770 million in total.

As the winter tourism peak approaches, seasonal destinations across China are rolling out new attractions to draw visitors, including hot spring campsites, riverside carnivals, and an ice and snow sports Super League combining professional competitions with entertainment-focused events such as large-scale snowball fights.

(Source : Xinhua)