Inner Mongolia Launches its Five Month New Ice Snow Tourism Season as China Speeds Up National Winter Tourism

Published on November 24, 2025

The Inner Mongolia autonomous region in North China has kicked off a five-month ice-snow tourism season in a determined push to position the region as a leading winter tourism destination. According to local culture and tourism authorities, the season will feature 159 cultural activities, 48 sporting events and 45 themed travel routes, forming a packed calendar of festivals, performances and outdoor experiences designed to keep visitors engaged throughout the cold months.

It is based on the idea that snow and low temperatures can be an opportunity for economic benefits, rather than obstacles. By combining culture, sports, nature, and modern tourism services, Inner Mongolia tries to attract more visitors from all over China and neighboring markets to extend the peak season during traditional holidays and to create more stable income for the local communities.

Major Winter Festivals Anchor The 2025 2026 Program

Another key highlight is the 22nd China Russia Mongolia International Ice and Snow Festival held in Manzhouli, a busy border city that links markets across China, Russia and Mongolia. This festival brings together cross border travellers, traders and performers, turning the city into a showcase of multicultural winter life with illuminated snow landscapes, entertainment and cultural exchange. The combination of regional traditions and international participation helps position Inner Mongolia as a bridge between Northeast Asia and the Eurasian interior.

National Strategy To Grow Chinas Ice Snow Economy

The new season in Inner Mongolia fits into a broader state level plan to develop Chinas ice snow economy into a high value pillar of national growth. Official targets aim to lift the overall industry scale to around 1.2 trillion yuan by 2027 and 1.5 trillion yuan by 2030, integrating tourism, sports, equipment manufacturing, services and related industries.

Under this national framework, winter destinations are encouraged to upgrade infrastructure, improve safety management, professionalise snow sports instruction and launch more diversified products such as family snow holidays, wellness oriented hot spring trips, long stay slow travel and event based tourism. The winter campaign in Inner Mongolia showcases how regional authorities are translating these policy signals into concrete projects on the ground.

Heilongjiang Expands Harbin Ice Snow World As Flagship Attraction

In Northeast China, Heilongjiang province continues to act as a benchmark for large scale ice snow tourism. Harbin Ice Snow World, often described as the worlds largest ice and snow themed park, is undergoing another expansion for the upcoming season. The park will feature more than 400,000 cubic meters of ice and snow, transformed into monumental structures, themed districts and interactive play areas.

These installations typically include towering ice castles, sculpted corridors, slides, viewing towers and performance stages, drawing visitors after dark when colourful lighting designs illuminate the frozen landscape. The park not only attracts tourists but also supports jobs in design, construction, logistics and hospitality, reinforcing the idea that winter tourism can drive wide economic benefits beyond ticket sales alone.

Jilin Boosts Winter Demand With Vouchers And Ski Transport

Neighboring Jilin province is leaning on targeted financial support to make winter tourism more accessible. Authorities are issuing 100 million yuan in winter tourism vouchers that can be used for hotel stays, scenic area entry, cultural events and travel services. By directly reducing costs, the vouchers aim to encourage families, young travellers and budget conscious visitors to choose winter trips that they might otherwise postpone.

In addition, Jilin is offering discounted shuttle services to major ski resorts, tackling one of the key barriers for first time visitors who are unfamiliar with mountain roads or prefer not to self drive in snowy conditions. Easier access to ski areas helps distribute tourist flows more evenly, supports smaller towns near the resorts and strengthens the province’s image as a reliable, beginner friendly skiing destination.

Xinjiang Altay Builds Youth Focused Ski Culture

Further west, Altay prefecture in Northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region is using education linked initiatives to deepen the region’s association with ski tourism. Local authorities have introduced a nine day student snow break, giving school aged children extra time to take part in skiing and other snow sports during the season.

This measure supports local resorts with a predictable wave of visitors and, more importantly, helps nurture a long term winter sports culture among younger generations. As more students learn to ski in Altay’s natural snow environment, the region strengthens its identity as a cradle of snow sports and creates new opportunities for training programs, youth camps and outdoor education products.

Inner Mongolia Enhances Comfort And Themed Winter Experiences

Within Inner Mongolia itself, cities such as Ulanqab and Arxan are working to stand out through distinctive winter offerings. Volcanic skiing sites and snowmobiling routes invite travellers to experience dramatic landscapes shaped by geological history, turning remote highland areas into adventure playgrounds.

To make these activities more attractive, the region is planning to issue tourism vouchers and promote ski hot spring combo tickets, encouraging visitors to pair active days on the slopes with relaxing evenings in hot spring facilities at more affordable prices. To address comfort concerns in harsh weather, authorities are also preparing heated rest areas, hot drinks at main visitor hubs and extended opening hours at popular venues. These measures help ensure that winter outings remain enjoyable even during cold snaps, widening the appeal of the season to older tourists, families with children and travellers who are new to snow environments.

Wider Benefits For Local Communities And Rural Revitalisation

The expansion of ice snow tourism across Inner Mongolia and other northern regions is closely linked with broader goals of rural revitalisation and balanced regional development. Many winter attractions are located in grassland counties, forest areas and mountain towns that historically relied on seasonal agriculture or resource based industries. By attracting visitors in the cold season, local authorities can create additional income streams for homestays, small guesthouses, food businesses, transport providers and craft producers.

As more travellers seek authentic experiences, village based cultural performances, traditional winter cuisine, local handicrafts and ethnic customs gain commercial value while receiving new platforms for preservation and innovation. This helps strengthen community identity and gives younger residents more reasons to stay or return to their hometowns to work in tourism and related services.

Travel Experience And Accessibility For Winter Tourists

For domestic travellers from major cities, the growing network of high speed rail, regional airports and improved highways makes it increasingly realistic to plan weekend or short break trips to snow destinations like Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang, Jilin and Xinjiang. Many winter attractions now coordinate their schedules with public holidays and school breaks, making it easier for families to organise multi day itineraries that combine cultural visits, outdoor sport and leisure.

At the same time, better on site services such as multilingual signage in key hubs, clear safety information, rental equipment for beginners and organised group activities contribute to more confident and satisfying experiences for first time visitors. These improvements are important for building repeat travel intentions and positive word of mouth, both within China and among international tourists who are exploring the country’s winter side.

Outlook For Chinas Expanding Winter Tourism Landscape

Put them together, the efforts in Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Xinjiang reveal how China is gradually turning the cold months into a competitive edge for its tourism industry. The large ice parks, curated cultural festivals, youth-oriented snow sports, targeted financial incentives, and comfort-oriented services speak to an integrated strategy for putting together a resilient economy through ice and snow.

When the 2025-2026 winter season gets underway, Inner Mongolia’s five-month programme comprising 159 cultural activities, 48 sporting events, and 45 themed routes will form one of the most important showcases of how regional planning can turn national policy into tangible visitor experiences. If these efforts succeed in attracting more travellers and longer stays and yield benefits for local residents, they will go a long way toward helping the country reach its 2027 and 2030 targets for industry scale, while giving travellers a deeper understanding of China’s rich winter landscapes and cultures.