From Li Yunqi
During the Chinese New Year holiday, 12 million people visited the northeastern city of Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang Province and the host city of the ongoing Asian Winter Games. Back in 2015, when China won the bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympics, 12 million was also the total number of people across the entire country who participated in winter sports in a whole year.
Fast forward to 2022, when Beijing finally hosted the Winter Olympics, that number had skyrocketed to 300 million. In just seven years, winter sports had gone from a niche activity mostly confined to China’s coldest provinces to a mainstream pastime enjoyed by one in five Chinese people.
For decades, winter sports in China were mostly limited to the northeastern provinces, where natural snowfall and freezing temperatures made activities like skiing and ice skating possible. But participation was low, and for most people, these sports seemed expensive and out of reach. That changed in 2015 when China set an ambitious goal to get 300 million people involved in winter sports by 2025.
Indoor ski slopes and ice arenas started to take shape in regions with no natural snow, making winter sports accessible to millions more people. Schools introduced winter sports into their curriculums, and public events helped raise awareness. By the time the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics came around, China had already hit its target—three years ahead of schedule.
The ongoing Asian Winter Games in Harbin marks another milestone in China’s winter sports journey. As one of the country’s coldest cities, Harbin has long been known for its winter tourism. Its famous Ice and Snow Festival draws millions of visitors every year, but hosting the Asian Winter Games for the second time gives the city a chance to prove it can handle a large-scale international sports event while showcasing the splendor of the city to the world.
Nearly 30 years after Harbin hosted the 1996 Asian Winter Games, the competition this year attracts athletes from 34 countries and regions, with countries like Saudi Arabia and Cambodia which are making their debut at the event. Events like figure skating, ice hockey, and ski jumping have drawn massive crowds, while sold-out tickets and a flood of tourists have boosted the local economy. During the Spring Festival holiday season, Harbin saw a record 12 million visitors, with hotels, restaurants, and shops reaping the benefits.
The city also took the opportunity to upgrade its infrastructure. Sports venues were renovated, transportation systems improved, and green energy solutions, like wind and solar power, were integrated into event operations.
While Harbin is in the spotlight, other regions are also capitalizing on China’s winter sports boom. Zhangjiakou in the northern province of Hebei, which co-hosted the 2022 Winter Olympics, has emerged as a premier ski destination. Guangzhou and Chengdu, cities without natural snow, have invested in massive indoor snow parks, making winter sports accessible in the warm south.
Meanwhile, Xinjiang is leveraging its breathtaking mountain landscapes to attract skiers, and Changchun in Jilin Province, another metropolis in northeast China, has become a hub for professional ice sports training.
This growing competition is pushing cities to innovate. Whether it’s creating high-end ski resorts, making winter sports more affordable, or developing better facilities for athletes, the race to become China’s top winter sports destination is heating up.
China’s winter sports boom isn’t just about leisure—it’s also big business. The country’s ice and snow economy is already worth over 1 trillion yuan (about $140 billion) and is expected to reach 1.5 trillion yuan by 2030. The market includes everything from ski tourism and sports events to equipment manufacturing and media coverage.
As winter sports gain popularity, demand for high-quality gear, training programs, and travel experiences is soaring. International brands like Decathlon and Burton are expanding their presence in China, while domestic brands are gaining ground by offering more affordable, locally tailored products. China has become a global powerhouse in winter sports over the past decade.
Harbin’s successful hosting of the Asian Winter Games is another step in that journey, proving that China is serious about developing its winter sports industry.
The big question now isn’t whether winter sports will continue to grow in China—it’s how far the country can take its ice and snow economy. With a growing middle class, strong government support, and rapidly expanding winter sports facilities, China is well on its way to becoming one of the world’s top winter sports nations. –The Author is also a host for CGTN Radio
