China's Booming Ice and Snow Industry: A Catalyst for Economic Growth

The enchanting city of Harbin, located in the Heilongjiang province of northeastern China, stands as a testament to the nation's flourishing ice and snow economy. Over the recent Spring Festival holidays from January 28 to February 4, 2025, Harbin experienced a significant surge in winter tourism. The iconic Harbin Ice-Snow World theme park drew in over 610,000 visitors, with a record-breaking attendance of more than 100,000 on February 1, establishing a new one-day record.

The growing popularity of this park is closely tied to Harbin's role as the host city for the upcoming 9th Asian Winter Games, scheduled for February 7-14. This event marks a significant moment in China's winter sports history, following the successful Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. President Xi Jinping's attendance at the opening ceremony highlights the government's commitment to promoting winter sports and tourism as essential economic drivers.

The Acceleration of the Ice and Snow Economy

The Chinese government has underscored the importance of developing ice and snow sports, viewing it as a strategic area for economic growth. President Xi has emphasized cultivating this sector to boost the entire winter sports industry, including sports culture, equipment, and tourism. This focus has resulted in a remarkable increase in people participating in winter sports, with an estimated 57.35 million participating in all types of ice and snow activities during the 2023-2024 winter season.

Additionally, the leisure activities associated with winter sports have seen a striking growth with over 385 million visits recorded across the country, representing a 38% increase from the previous year. Harbin alone attracted more than 87 million visitors during the last winter season, demonstrating a staggering 300% increase, translating to 124.8 billion yuan (approximately 17.4 billion USD) in tourist revenues—an impressive growth of 500%.

Growing Domestic Demand

The ice and snow economy has emerged as a significant contributor to domestic consumption growth. Online shopping platforms have reported a surge in demand for winter sports gear during the