School breaks inject momentum into China's ice and snow economy

Students do warm-up exercises at Jiangjunshan International Ski Resort in Altay, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Dec. 1, 2025. (Xinhua/Aman)

Regions like northeast China's Jilin Province and northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region have announced "snow breaks" for students lasting five days, encouraging young people to travel, participate in winter camps and take part in cultural study tours.

To promote the initiative, Jilin has issued 100 million yuan (about $14.14 million) in consumption vouchers for ice and snow activities. Students can ski and skate for free, while accompanying parents receive a 30 percent discount on tickets and admission fees.

In Xinjiang, primary and middle school students can enjoy two days of free skiing at designated resorts in Urumqi and Altay, along with discounted rates on accommodation and transportation.

The holidays have boosted family spending on ice and snow activities, giving new momentum to the cultural tourism market during the winter season.

A 2025 research report on China's ice and snow industry projects that the sector will exceed 1 trillion yuan this year.

"This is my first time skiing at a resort in northeast China. The opening ceremony was full of energy. I don't feel cold at all, and I can't wait to slide down the slopes," said Tang, a visitor from Shanghai.

Data from the Chinese on-demand delivery platform Meituan shows that over the past week, searches for "ski resorts nearby" have risen 87 percent year on year.

This year, an increasing number of tourists are seeking high-quality ski resorts within China. Resorts in places including Jilin, Chongli in north China's Hebei Province and Harbin in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province are increasingly attractive for their affordability, convenient access and excellent services.

Beyond high-quality snow conditions, the resorts are continually upgrading their amenities. For example, Wanfeng Tonghua Ski Resort in Jilin has introduced smart photo-capture technology. High-definition cameras, guided by China's BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, automatically record skiers' moves, creating videos that visitors can easily download through a mobile app.

Jundushan Ski Resort in Beijing plans to offer pet-friendly services, including a dedicated snow play area for pets. Meanwhile, Keketuohai International Ski Resort in Altay has debuted ice and snow drone shows.

Each ski trip not only brings ticket revenue for the slopes but also drives spending at nearby restaurants, hotels and other services. According to the report, consumer spending within 2 kilometers of China's ski resorts has risen 27.97 percent.