The dazzling dragon statue under the night sky attracts many citizens and tourists in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Jan. 20, 2025.

In 2005, President Xi Jingping stated that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets." Eleven years later, he expanded the concept, saying, "Ice and snow are also as invaluable assets."

As early as the initial bid for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, China made a solemn promise to the world to "engage 300 million people in ice and snow sports." In recent years, taking advantage of the legacy of the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, China has seen the rapid development of ice and snow sports, driving the continuous rise of regional culture and tourism.

In northeast China, tourists can ride horse-drawn sleds, traversing the forest and snowfields, experiencing the unique folk culture of the Manchu people; in northwest China, skiing enthusiasts from various places gather at the foot of the Tianshan Mountains to enjoy the thrill of high-speed skiing; in southwest China, the fifth Ice and Snow Sports Season in Chengdu integrated ice and snow sports with tourism resources; in southern cities like Guangzhou and Shenzhen, newly constructed indoor ice and snow sports facilities offer new skiing experiences for southern residents ...

What are the trends in the development of China's ice and snow economy? How can ice and snow tourism transform from being a "seasonal sensation" to achieving "year-round prosperity"? Recently, China News Release interviewed Dai Bin, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and president of the China Tourism Academy (CTA), on these issues. He said that China's ice and snow tourism market surged to unprecedented levels during the recently concluded 2024–2025 ice and snow season, fueld by the ninth Asian Winter Games which ran from February 7 to 15. Going to northeast China to experience the charm of ice and snow has become a hot trend during the past Spring Festival holiday.

During this year's two sessions, Dai focused his attention on the high-quality development of China's tourism industry. His proposals included creating gateway hubs for international visitors and building independent traveler–friendly service systems to enhance travel experiences for both domestic and international visitors.