China's "Ice and Snow Tourism" to Attract 360 Million This Winter... Northern Cities Like Harbin Heat Up

A panoramic view of the Harbin Ice and Snow World in China. It is the world's largest ice and snow theme park, decorated with ice sculptures and night lighting every winter. Photo by CMG

In China's winter tourism market, "ice and snow tourism" is emerging as a key growth driver. This winter, the cumulative number of people participating in snow and ice-themed travel and leisure activities in China is expected to reach 360 million.

According to the "China Ice and Snow Tourism Development Report (2026)" recently released by the China Tourism Academy (a data center under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism), revenue from ice and snow tourism and leisure during the 2025-2026 winter season is projected to reach approximately 450 billion yuan (about 95 trillion won).

Ice and snow tourism encompasses not only winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding, but also festivals, exhibitions, and experiential theme parks that utilize snow and ice. It can be broadly understood as including Korea's winter ski trips, snow festivals, and ice fishing.

In China, large-scale winter tourist destinations have been developed, especially in the northeastern and northern regions. Representative cities include Harbin in Heilongjiang Province, Shenyang in Liaoning Province, Changchun in Jilin Province, and Zhangjiakou in Hebei Province.

Among these, Harbin is considered the symbolic city of China's ice and snow tourism. The annual Harbin Ice and Snow Festival is regarded as one of the world's four major winter festivals.

This year's festival is the largest ever, with the main venue alone covering 1.2 million square meters, which is equivalent to about 170 soccer fields. The venue used 400,000 cubic meters of ice and snow, and features include a giant ice slide stretching 520 meters and massive ice castles. Organizers expect at least 3 million visitors during the festival period.

The report analyzed that China's ice and snow tourism is entering a phase of "qualitative transformation" beyond simple growth in visitor numbers. The spending patterns of travelers are also shifting from essential expenses such as transportation and accommodation to entertainment, health management, cultural content, and advanced technology experiences.

According to a survey conducted by the China Tourism Academy, 74.8% of respondents said they want to experience ice and snow leisure activities this winter, and more than half (50.5%) are planning long-distance winter trips.

Expansion to the South... The World's Largest Indoor Ski Resort Opens in Shenzhen

Visitors are enjoying winter sports at a large indoor ski resort located in the Qianhai area of Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China. CMG

Ice and snow tourism is not limited to the northern regions. The report noted that investment in indoor ski resorts and ice and snow-themed complexes is rapidly increasing in southern China as well. The "four-season ice and snow tourism" model, which reduces the constraints of climate and season, is spreading.

In fact, a large indoor ski resort has recently begun operations in Shenzhen, a major southern city with a subtropical climate.

The indoor ski resort within the "Ice and Snow World" complex in the Qianhai area of Shenzhen is currently the largest in the world, with a total floor area of about 100,000 square meters-roughly the size of 11 soccer fields. The facility features five professional snow courses, including a downhill slope with a maximum height of 83 meters and a ski track about 440 meters long.

According to the report, as of 2025, the total size of China's ice and snow economy exceeded 1 trillion yuan (about 211 trillion won), and the number of related companies increased by 11% year-on-year to over 14,000. Exports of winter sports equipment, such as ski gear, are also expanding through overseas e-commerce platforms.

China Media Group (CMG) reported, "China's ice and snow tourism is moving beyond boosting domestic consumption and is now entering a phase of strengthening its connection with the international tourism market."