China's winter economy heating up rapidly

China's ice and snow economy is thriving, turning its natural "cold resources" into a burgeoning "hot economy" for the nation.

From expanding ski resorts to increasing visits by skiers, the rise of snow tourism is creating fresh opportunities for regions across the country as winter takes hold, amid strong support from government policies and infrastructure development.

Zhao Yin, a 28-year-old marketing professional from Shanghai, and her friends visited Songhua Lake Ski Resort in Northeast China's Jilin province late in November.

She said the trip, along with other ski and snowboard lovers, was memorable and ended up costing only about 3,000 yuan ($412), thanks to seasonal discounts on flights, ski fees, and local consumption coupons.

"Being in nature and focusing on the moment are a lot of fun, especially when you are with a group of friends," she said of her outing in the new snow season.

Zhao, an avid snowboarder, also hires private instructors to refine her skills, though not for every ski trip, paying an average of 500 yuan per hour.

"Each time I snowboard, I feel like I learn something new. It's all about controlling your body," she said.

Zhao's enthusiasm reflects a broader trend.

Wu Bin, founder and CEO of Beijing Snowpal Enterprise Management Co Ltd, said: "The passion to experience and participate in skiing has surged, stimulating ice and snow tourism across the country."

The winter sports industry in the country saw a 16.3 percent increase in skier visits during the fiscal year ending on April 30, 2024, with 23.08 million visits recorded compared to 19.83 million in the previous year, according to the China Ski Industry White Book (2023-24) released in November.

The number of individual skiers grew 14.5 percent to 12.8 million, and the per capita skiing frequency increased to 1.8 times from 1.77 times last year, according to the report, which has been compiled by Beijing Snowpal.