Nation's frozen assets keep paying dividends

The number of inbound tourists visiting the country's ski resorts has also reached a new high at 518,000, so far, this season, representing an annual rise of 29.8 percent from last year.

"Obviously, the hosting of more world-class events, such as the Asian Winter Games in Harbin, provides a big help in maintaining the momentum," Zhang said.

"From going abroad to learn from the world's best, to attracting visitors from our own surrounding markets, I think that speaks volumes for the progress of China's winter sports industry," she added.

Launched in 2016 by ADG and the Beijing Olympic City Development Association, the annual World Winter Sports (Beijing) Expo, which will celebrate its 10th anniversary this fall, is expected to attract record numbers of exhibitors, visitors and new signings when it is staged in October, according to Zhang.

Guest speakers, executives and officials attending the forum, organized by Advantage Austria, a trade promotion organization hailing from a country that has a long history as a winter sports powerhouse, all agreed that the market potential in China remains untapped, and that there are business opportunities that have not yet been fully explored.