Published : 16/12/2025
Each winter, two snowy spectacles captivate visitors: Beijing's Forbidden City draped in white, and Harbin's Ice and Snow World with its dazzling ice sculptures.
These have become essential winter destinations, featured on many travel lists.
Behind this lies a burgeoning ice-and-snow tourism trend, sweeping across China and blending traditional charm with contemporary trends.
China's two major winter spectacles staged simultaneously
This winter, Beijing finally welcomed its first snow; although slightly later than in previous years, it did not diminish people's enthusiasm for snow viewing in the slightest.
The red walls and yellow tiles of the Forbidden City, covered in a blanket of white snow, resemble a serene and splendid ancient painting, attracting numerous tourists to queue early in the morning just to capture this limited-edition winter scene.
For this reason, tickets for the Forbidden City for the coming week are already fully booked, a clear indication of its immense popularity.
Meanwhile, Harbin Ice-Snow World officially opened on 17 December. This year's scale has set a new record, creating a 1.2 million-square-metre dream kingdom with 400,000 cubic metres of ice and snow.
In addition to spectacular ice sculptures, it also incorporates technological elements such as AI interaction and intelligent lighting, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the ice and snow carnival.
Although these two great winter attractions are completely different, they both attest to a change: people's desire for ice and snow today has long gone beyond just "seeing" to also "experiencing".
Read more: Travel in winter｜Best way to enjoy snow in the Forbidden City
Why is ice-and-snow tourism so popular?
So, how many people across China are actually passionate about ice-and-snow tourism?
Data shows that during the last ice-and-snow season, the number of leisure tourism trips nationwide reached 430 million, and the scale of the ice and snow industry jumped from 270 billion RMB in 2015 to 980 billion RMB in 2024, with projections that it will exceed one trillion RMB this season.
People are not just "snow-gazing"; they are more willing to spend money in areas such as ice and snow sports and ice and snow holidays.
Behind this is an evolution in travel concepts, where the ice and snow experience is no longer just about sightseeing, but has become a lifestyle of relaxation, socialising, and self-challenge.
Interestingly, this enthusiasm has long crossed geographical boundaries; in Southern China, where natural snow is a rarity, ice-and-snow tourism is just as popular.
As of early 2025, over a third of the country's indoor ski resorts have been built in southern provinces such as Zhejiang and Guangdong.
This September, Shenzhen Qianhai Ice and Snow World officially opened, becoming one of the largest indoor ski resorts in the world, allowing residents of the Greater Bay Area to enjoy the fun of skiing right in the city centre.
Read more: Ice harvesting: The mysterious ceremony on China's Songhua River
3 Popular ways to enjoy an immersive winter journey experience
How can you have fun during the ice-and-snow season?
Here are our recommendations for the three best ways to play, ensuring that whether you prefer traditional charm or trendy experiences, everyone can find their favourite option.
Firstly, the most classic activity is, of course, visiting scenic spots where natural and cultural landscapes merge.
Besides the red walls and white snow of the Forbidden City in Beijing, the rime-covered trees along the river on Jilin Rime Island and the sea of clouds over Huangshan after a snowfall all display a completely different, stunning scenery when cloaked in their winter attire.
This type of travel has a relaxed pace, focusing on quiet appreciation and heartfelt experience, capturing this exclusive, serene beauty with your eyes and camera.
If you want to experience a lively and joyful festive atmosphere, then various ice and snow theme parks, exemplified by the Harbin Ice and Snow World, are the best places to go.
It's more like a giant, open-air winter amusement park that instantly sparks enthusiasm in the cold with its magnificent ice sculptures, dazzling lights, and lively music.
Whether you're visiting to take photos or experiencing the thrilling super ice slide or the Ferris wheel, you can immerse yourself in the exuberant celebration, making it especially suitable for travelling with companions to share the joy.
If you want a more in-depth experience of ice-and-snow tourism, you can also visit places like Chongli in Hebei or Songhua Lake in Jilin to enjoy a complete "skiing holiday".
Besides skiing, you can also go outdoor ice skating, experience the unique Northeastern 'winter fishing', or relax in a hot spring, and stay for a few days in a local boutique guesthouse to enjoy a pleasant winter trip.
This winter, is everyone ready for a winter feast?