Since the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, winter sports have gained incredible traction in China, with approximately 313 million individuals participating in ice and snow activities. This surge reflects a growing enthusiasm for winter sports across the nation, as highlighted by Yang Xuedong, head of the Economic Department at the State General Administration of Sport (SGAS).
In an ambitious move, China has launched a bold initiative to expand its ice and snow economy, aiming for a market value of 1.5 trillion yuan (about 211 billion US dollars) by 2030. This plan emphasizes the importance of winter sports, tourism, and equipment manufacturing as pivotal sectors for development.
Recent studies indicate that interest in winter sports remains high two years post-Olympics. For instance, ski resorts in Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region reported a staggering 50.49% increase in bookings between November 1 and December 20, alongside a 58.41% rise in spending. Hotel bookings near these resorts also saw a notable increase of 27.85%.
During the 2023-2024 snow season, Xinjiang welcomed an impressive 92.6 million tourists, representing a remarkable 147.78% increase compared to the previous year. The region's tourism revenue surged to 106.7 billion yuan (approximately 14.6 billion dollars), reflecting a staggering 263.74% year-on-year growth.
Shang Hongbo, Deputy Director of the Sports Bureau of Xinjiang, emphasized the region's strategy to leverage its abundant ice and snow resources, aspiring to become a premier global destination for winter sports and tourism.
The enthusiasm for winter sports has catalyzed rapid infrastructure development throughout China. By 2023, the country boasted 2,847 ice and snow sports venues, including 1,912 ice skating facilities and 935 skiing venues, extending even into traditionally warmer regions like Guangdong Province, which features 24 ice skating venues and 10 skiing facilities.