China's Ice and Snow Industry: A Driving Force for Economic Growth in Harbin

Harbin, the capital city of Heilongjiang province in northeast China, is rapidly establishing itself as a hub for the ice and snow industry. This surge was particularly evident during the Spring Festival of 2025, where the city's renowned ice and snow amusement park drew over 610,000 visitors within just eight days from January 28 to February 4. On February 1 alone, record-breaking attendance surpassed 100,000, marking a significant milestone. This rise in winter tourism has been bolstered by Harbin's upcoming role as the host of the 9th Asian Winter Games, scheduled from February 7 to 14, 2025. This event is pivotal, being the second major winter sports event in China following the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to grace the opening ceremony, highlighting the importance of this event, as he also hosts a welcoming banquet for attending foreign leaders.

Recognizing the potential of the ice and snow sector, President Xi has advocated for the development of winter sports and related industries as a new growth driver in the economy. He envisions an extensive industrial chain that encompasses winter sports culture, equipment, and tourism.

In recent years, the popularity of winter sports has notably surged in China, evidenced by statistics from the General Administration of Sport of China. The 2023–2024 winter season saw 57.35 million participants engaging in various ice and snow sports, including skating, skiing, curling, and ice hockey. Furthermore, there were over 385 million recorded visits to winter leisure activities nationwide, marking a substantial 38% increase from the previous year.

Harbin itself welcomed over 87 million visitors this winter season, a staggering 300% leap year-on-year, generating tourism revenues of 124.8 billion yuan (approximately USD 17.4 billion), representing an impressive 500% increase. The growing consumption of ice and snow experiences is transforming these once