China's Ice and Snow Industry Blossoms, Driving Economic Growth in Harbin
In northeastern China, Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang Province, exemplifies the country's flourishing ice and snow industry, which is significantly bolstering the national economy. During the eight-day Spring Festival celebrations from January 28 to February 4, 2025, the city attracted a massive influx of winter tourism enthusiasts. One of the main attractions, Harbin Ice-Snow World, renowned for its stunning ice sculptures, welcomed over 610,000 visitors, peaking at an astounding 100,000 guests in a single day on February 1.
The surge in popularity for Harbin's attractions is largely attributed to the upcoming 9th Asian Winter Games, scheduled to take place from February 7 to 14, marking one of the largest winter sports events in China's history, next to the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. This high-profile event has drawn the attention of Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is set to host a welcoming banquet for the participating nations' leaders during the opening ceremony.
China's snow and ice industry is gaining momentum, becoming a significant driver for the economy related to sports, culture, equipment, and winter tourism. According to data from the General Administration of Sport of China, approximately 57.35 million people participated in various winter sports during the 2023-2024 season. Moreover, the winter season saw over 385 million leisure trips taken across the country, representing a remarkable 38% increase from the previous year.
Harbin itself became a winter hotspot, attracting over 87 million visitors last winter – a staggering 300% increase compared to the previous year, yielding over 124 billion yuan (approximately 17.4 billion USD) in tourism revenue, which marked a phenomenal 500% growth.
The rising consumption related to winter recreational activities has emerged as a crucial factor in stimulating domestic demand. This shift indicates that cold resources are being transformed into a potent mechanism for economic development. Data from e-commerce and travel platforms reflect a marked increase in winter equipment orders, showcasing a notable spike in searches and bookings for winter excursions during China's major shopping festival known as 'Double 11'. On one of the largest e-commerce platforms in China, Tmall, sales of winter clothing and skiing equipment skyrocketed by over 200% year-over-year during this festival.
Looking ahead, China recognizes the vast potential of its ice and snow resources and is positioning the winter industry as vital for economic growth. The State Council's directives emphasize that support for the winter industry is a key component of China's growth strategy, with projections estimating the sector's value could reach approximately 1.2 trillion yuan (around 169 billion USD) by 2027 and 1.5 trillion yuan by 2030.
With this vision in sight, numerous cities and regions are incorporating winter sports and tourism into their development plans. Heilongjiang Province is moving forward with the establishment of winter sports demonstration zones under the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to quicken the market growth for winter equipment. Meanwhile, Beijing has launched a comprehensive plan with 24 initiatives aimed at enhancing winter sports consumption and constructing facilities for these activities.
The robust expansion of the winter industry in China has gained international recognition. To attract foreign tourists, various initiatives have been implemented, including visa-free travel promotions and new international flight routes. During a recent press briefing, Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, emphasized that the boom in China's winter industry has given a fresh impetus to the global tourism market, inviting friends from around the world to engage in China's winter events, promoting friendship and collaboration.
As China strides confidently into the future of winter sports, the landscape of their economy is poised to shift dramatically. With growing participation and substantial investment, the hope is to not just attract more tourists but to foster a vibrant, year-round winter sports culture that can sustain economic growth for years to come.
For more details, visit CGTN News.
The surge in popularity for Harbin's attractions is largely attributed to the upcoming 9th Asian Winter Games, scheduled to take place from February 7 to 14, marking one of the largest winter sports events in China's history, next to the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. This high-profile event has drawn the attention of Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is set to host a welcoming banquet for the participating nations' leaders during the opening ceremony.
China's snow and ice industry is gaining momentum, becoming a significant driver for the economy related to sports, culture, equipment, and winter tourism. According to data from the General Administration of Sport of China, approximately 57.35 million people participated in various winter sports during the 2023-2024 season. Moreover, the winter season saw over 385 million leisure trips taken across the country, representing a remarkable 38% increase from the previous year.
Harbin itself became a winter hotspot, attracting over 87 million visitors last winter – a staggering 300% increase compared to the previous year, yielding over 124 billion yuan (approximately 17.4 billion USD) in tourism revenue, which marked a phenomenal 500% growth.
The rising consumption related to winter recreational activities has emerged as a crucial factor in stimulating domestic demand. This shift indicates that cold resources are being transformed into a potent mechanism for economic development. Data from e-commerce and travel platforms reflect a marked increase in winter equipment orders, showcasing a notable spike in searches and bookings for winter excursions during China's major shopping festival known as 'Double 11'. On one of the largest e-commerce platforms in China, Tmall, sales of winter clothing and skiing equipment skyrocketed by over 200% year-over-year during this festival.
Looking ahead, China recognizes the vast potential of its ice and snow resources and is positioning the winter industry as vital for economic growth. The State Council's directives emphasize that support for the winter industry is a key component of China's growth strategy, with projections estimating the sector's value could reach approximately 1.2 trillion yuan (around 169 billion USD) by 2027 and 1.5 trillion yuan by 2030.
With this vision in sight, numerous cities and regions are incorporating winter sports and tourism into their development plans. Heilongjiang Province is moving forward with the establishment of winter sports demonstration zones under the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to quicken the market growth for winter equipment. Meanwhile, Beijing has launched a comprehensive plan with 24 initiatives aimed at enhancing winter sports consumption and constructing facilities for these activities.
The robust expansion of the winter industry in China has gained international recognition. To attract foreign tourists, various initiatives have been implemented, including visa-free travel promotions and new international flight routes. During a recent press briefing, Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, emphasized that the boom in China's winter industry has given a fresh impetus to the global tourism market, inviting friends from around the world to engage in China's winter events, promoting friendship and collaboration.
As China strides confidently into the future of winter sports, the landscape of their economy is poised to shift dramatically. With growing participation and substantial investment, the hope is to not just attract more tourists but to foster a vibrant, year-round winter sports culture that can sustain economic growth for years to come.
For more details, visit CGTN News.
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