Harbin, the capital of northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, stands at the forefront of the country’s expanding ice and snow economy. The city’s flourishing winter tourism has become a significant driver of economic growth, particularly during the eight-day 2025 Spring Festival holiday, from January 28 to February 4. Harbin Ice-Snow World, renowned for its intricate ice sculptures, saw more than 610,000 visitors during the period, with over 100,000 visitors on February 1 alone, setting a new single-day attendance record.
The city’s role as the host of the upcoming 9th Asian Winter Games, scheduled for February 7-14, is expected to further boost its ice and snow tourism. This event marks China’s second major winter sports event following the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to attend the opening ceremony and host a welcome banquet for foreign leaders.
Ice and Snow Economy Accelerates
President Xi has underscored the importance of developing China’s ice and snow economy, positioning it as a new growth engine for the nation. His vision calls for a full industrial chain encompassing winter sports, culture, snow-and-ice equipment, and tourism to drive economic development.
The ice and snow sector has flourished in recent years as winter sports and tourism grow in popularity across China. The General Administration of Sport of China reports that 57.35 million people participated in ice and snow sports like skating, skiing, curling, and ice hockey during the 2023-2024 snow season. Additionally, the country recorded over 385 million winter leisure visits, a 38% year-on-year increase.
Harbin alone welcomed more than 87 million visitors during the last snow season, a 300% rise from the previous year. This influx generated 124.8 billion yuan (roughly $17.4 billion) in tourism revenue, marking an extraordinary 500% growth.
A Booming Market
The demand for ice and snow-related products has contributed significantly to the growth of the ice and snow economy. Online shopping and tourism platforms report a surge in orders for winter gear and increased interest in ice and snow tours. During the 2023 “Double 11” shopping festival, sales of down jackets, thermal wear, and skiing equipment on Tmall, one of China’s leading e-commerce platforms, spiked by over 200% compared to the previous year.
The winter economy is becoming an increasingly important driver of domestic demand, converting China’s natural “cold” resources into a “hot” engine for economic growth.
Expanding the Winter Economy
China is actively working to capitalize on its abundant ice and snow resources by expanding its winter economy, which spans winter sports, cultural activities, equipment, and tourism. The country aims to grow its ice and snow economy to a value of 1.2 trillion yuan (about $169 billion) by 2027 and 1.5 trillion yuan by 2030, according to a plan issued by the General Office of the State Council.
To meet these ambitious targets, various regions are incorporating winter sports and tourism into their long-term development strategies. Heilongjiang Province, for example, is pushing forward the establishment of a China-Shanghai Cooperation Organization winter sports demonstration zone and accelerating the development of related equipment and digital industries.
In Beijing, an action plan has been launched, detailing 24 measures to expand ice and snow sports participation, consumption, and facility development.
Global Recognition and Opportunities
The rapid growth of China’s ice and snow economy has garnered international attention. The country has introduced measures, including relaxing visa policies and opening new international flight routes, to attract foreign tourists. These initiatives are helping position China as a prime destination for winter tourism, injecting fresh momentum into the global tourism market.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun highlighted the importance of the ice and snow sector in promoting global tourism and fostering international cooperation. He extended an invitation to friends around the world to visit China and participate in winter events, strengthening ties through shared experiences in the country’s growing winter economy.
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