China: From Harbin Mammoth Ice-Snow World To Altay Skiing Slopes, A National Strategy For Tourism And Cultural Enrichment Is Mobilized

The stage is being meticulously set across the northern reaches of the country for a substantial acceleration of the winter tourism sector. Preparations for an unprecedented snow season have been officially launched in key regional hubs, signalling a vigorous commitment to expanding the nation’s ice-and-snow economy. Central to this comprehensive mobilization is the city of Harbin, which serves as the capital of Heilongjiang province in Northeast China and has long been regarded as the nation’s foremost winter destination. It has been confirmed that the renowned Harbin Ice-Snow World, recognized globally as the world’s largest ice-and-snow theme park, is being developed at a scale never before witnessed. This significant undertaking is considered a crucial element in the broader strategy to capture increased attention from global travellers and domestic visitors alike, solidifying Harbin’s reputation as the quintessential Ice City.

Harbin’s Monumental Winter Preparations

Substantial resources are currently being dedicated to the advancement of this vast winter spectacle. The park’s operator has confirmed that construction of the winter wonderland is proceeding at full speed, with the official building work having commenced on a recent Monday. For the upcoming season, a colossal volume of material is intended to be utilized, with calculations indicating that more than 400,000 cubic meters of ice and snow will be employed in the creation of its intricate amusement structures and expansive sculptures. This sheer quantity of material underscores the ambition of the project. Furthermore, the physical footprint of the theme park has been markedly increased this year, with the construction spanning 1.2 million square meters, an expansion of 200,000 square meters compared with the dimensions of the previous season.

Enhancing the Visitor Experience: Infrastructure and Service Upgrades

In parallel with the direct development of the theme park, a comprehensive effort is being undertaken across the city to elevate the standard of public facilities and tourist services. The objective of this systematic upgrade is to better accommodate the substantial influx of global travellers expected for the season. According to statements released by Wang Hongxin, who serves as the director of Harbin’s culture, radio, television and tourism department, efforts are being made to enhance smart tourism services and accessibility facilities. This commitment to modernizing the visitor pathway is considered essential for supporting the large-scale tourism initiative.

Details have been provided regarding an extensive lineup of city-wide ice-and-snow attractions set to launch in December. This includes the vast 1.5-million-square-meter Sun Island Snow Expo and the highly anticipated, lively carnival situated directly on the frozen Songhua River. At the Songhua River Ice-and-Snow Carnival, visitors will be afforded the opportunity to appreciate magnificent ice-and-snow sculptures, experience the excitement of snow drifting, and participate in approximately 60 distinct ice sports activities.

National Economic Momentum Driven by Snow

The success of Harbin, which is affectionately dubbed China’s Ice City, has been instrumental in igniting a nationwide fervor for winter tourism over the past few years. Leveraging its naturally long winter season, the city reported a record-breaking 90.35 million visitors during the most recent winter period. The economic consequences of this success are considerable; the total tourist spending recorded within the city reached a staggering 137.22 billion yuan (approximately $19.36 billion), representing a substantial year-on-year increase of 16.6 percent. These figures underscore the vital role that ice-and-snow tourism plays in stimulating consumption and bolstering local economies.

The expansion of this sector is not merely a regional pursuit but is regarded as a significant national economic imperative. Plans have been established at the highest administrative levels to strategically boost the ice-and-snow economy, identifying it as a crucial new sector for national growth. Guidelines issued by the General Office of the State Council in November 2024 articulated ambitious targets for the sector. Specifically, an economic scale of 1.2 trillion yuan is being targeted for achievement by 2027, with the objective further escalating to 1.5 trillion yuan by 2030. This demonstrates a resolute commitment to realizing fresh economic momentum through the comprehensive utilization of the nation’s unique ice-and-snow resources, with Harbin and other regional cities being positioned at the forefront of this initiative.

Regional Strategies: Expanding the Ice-and-Snow Footprint

The growth strategy is demonstrably being pursued through coordinated regional actions across Northeast China and the far west. In Mudanjiang city, also located within Heilongjiang province and approximately 300 kilometers north of Harbin, the China Snow Town scenic area has officially opened its doors. This destination, celebrated for its picturesque, fairy-tale landscapes and heavy snowfall, has developed a rich program encompassing more than 30 cultural and tourism activities. Offerings range from time-honored traditional celebrations to contemporary performances and technologically sophisticated light shows. This destination itself set a new benchmark last winter, having successfully welcomed 1.45 million visitors.

Further south, in Jilin province, proactive measures are being taken by the local government to stimulate consumer spending within the sector. A significant 100-million-yuan package of vouchers is planned to be issued for the benefit of both winter tourists and local residents. Furthermore, the province is concentrating on attracting a growing number of winter sports enthusiasts, especially in the wake of the upcoming 2025 Asian Winter Games. This strategy includes offering discounted shuttle services to the province’s high-demand ski resorts. Jin Zhenlin, the deputy director of the Jilin provincial department of culture and tourism, has highlighted the province’s strong position; Jilin has consistently maintained the leading rank for over a decade in attracting the highest volume of skiers among all provincial-level regions in China, a fact attributed to its abundance of high-quality ice rinks and ski resorts.

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