Harbin Ice and Snow World Opens, Ushering in a Winter Tourism Boom in China

Harbin Ice and Snow World Opens, Attracting Thousands

The 26th Harbin Ice and Snow World opened its doors to eager visitors on Saturday, attracting thousands who had queued since early morning. Tickets for the opening day sold out across various platforms, reflecting the high anticipation for this annual ice and snow extravaganza.

Spanning a vast 1 million square meters, the park is constructed with a staggering 300,000 cubic meters of ice and snow. This year's theme, "Dream of Winter, Love among Asia," incorporates elements from the 2025 Asian Winter Games, creating a captivating winter wonderland.

Winter Tourism Booming in China

Winter tourism is experiencing a boom across China, with Harbin in Heilongjiang Province remaining the top destination. Other regions, including Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Jilin, and Liaoning provinces, are also witnessing a surge in popularity. Data from Ctrip, a leading online travel agency, indicates a consistent rise in searches for winter tourism products since early December, with Harbin leading the way.

Qunar, another online travel platform, recorded a 30% year-on-year growth in bookings for ice and snow attractions since November. Hotel bookings in Harbin have also surged by over 50% compared to the same period last year.

Skiing Popularity Soars

Ski-related tourism is experiencing a notable rise in popularity. Ctrip's data reveals a significant increase in pre-sale bookings for ski hotels in major resorts across North China, with some core areas seeing a 224% year-on-year increase. Searches for "skiing" have also increased by 50% compared to the previous week.

The enthusiasm for skiing has grown substantially since the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, leading to a significant increase in visitor numbers at ski resorts, according to Li Jiaxi, a manager at the Silk Road Mountain Resort in Xinjiang.

Regions Leverage "Cold Resources"

Across China, regions are capitalizing on their "cold resources" to stimulate consumer interest. Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia have seen a sharp rise in winter tourism. In November, ski ticket bookings in Urumqi and Fuyun county more than doubled compared to last year. Inner Mongolia has also witnessed a 223% increase in charter tour bookings compared to the same period last year.