On the edge of a track of the Mazongshan ski resort, in Hohhot, in the Autonomous Region of Interior Mongolia (northern China), Yang Jingran is preparing to try the snowboard for the first time. Skiing glasses on the face, well -adjusted scarf and dressed in a white combination, she firmly holds her purple board. “Last year, I ski, and the feeling is completely different,” she says. Office employee, this sports enthusiast has found in night sliding an ideal way to relax after her work day.
Yang Shuhan, head of the station’s customer service, adds: “night skiing has become much more than a simple sporting activity, it is a real social experience. For those who have loaded working hours, it is a Perfect average to enjoy the adrenaline of the mountain without disturbing their daily life.
Currently, the station attracts an average of around 300 skiers per night, with a total number of entries exceeding 15,000. In comparison with the total attendance of last season, which amounted to 200,000 visitors, the current season, although mid-term, has already welcomed nearly 140,000 people, marking a significant rise in trend.
Overall, ice and snow sports in China are experiencing vigorous boom, with continuous growth in the number of skiers. According to the National Sports Administration, from November 1, 2024 to February 4, 2025, the 934 ski resorts distributed in the 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities in the continental part of China hosted a total of 151 million visitors, or an increase of 27.8% over a year.
Northern China remains the main bastion of skiing, the province of Heilongjiang (northeast) having received 16.066 million skiers, up 7.3%, and the Ouïgoure autonomous region of Xinjiang (northwest of China ) registering 9.65 million visitors, or growth of 30.5%. In addition, the number of international skiers continued to increase, with 518,000 admissions from foreign skiers, up 29.8%.
At the same time, the different regions, adapting their initiatives to local conditions, actively enrich the consumption scenarios linked to snow and ice by offering diversified measures. For example, Sichuan, Hebei and Harbin have launched tourist circuits on the theme of snow and winter sports cards.
The province of Jilin allocated 100 million yuan in consumption vouchers dedicated to winter activities, while Beijing issued more than 30,000 vouchers for a “joyful snow season”. In regions like Guangdong, joint initiatives with ski resorts have been launched, including discounts on winter sports stations and charitable activities related to ski, aimed at stimulating participation and boosting the market Winter sports.
On the other hand, in the province of Heilongjiang, the snow and ice resources offer new possibilities for economic development. Each year, from November to March, the main driving test sites of the city of Heihe host renowned car manufacturers, both national and international. The testers, from various regions, return to Heihe as “migratory birds” to participate in annual trials in winter conditions.
According to the Office of Information Industry and Technologies of the City of Heihe, on January 3, 2025, 88 car manufacturers had participated in the 2024-2025 winter test season, with 1,823 vehicles tested and 2,258 people involved. New energy vehicles represent 70% of these tests.
Jia Lianqi, president of the association of the Snow and Ice Industry of the Heilongjiang province, declares that the importance given to the economy of snow and ice continues to grow across national. Under the combined impetus of favorable policies and market demand, more and more “cold” resources linked to snow and ice will turn into a “hot” economic engine, and the large tourist and cultural flow is will convert into a significant increase for industry.
