From ice castles in Harbin to ski resorts in Xinjiang and glaciers in Sichuan, China’s
ice and snow destinations are seeing a sharp rise in
foreign arrivals as the winter weather deepens, with visa rules easing and strong Southeast Asian demand driving triple-digit growth in inbound travel.
Inbound bookings to
China’s winter destinations have climbed close to 100 per cent year on year this season, with growth in Hebei province, the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region and the Inner Mongolia autonomous region all exceeding 130 per cent, according to data from online travel agency Trip.com.
Travellers from Southeast Asia account for nearly 70 per cent of arrivals, highlighting the appeal of ice and snow tourism for tourists from warmer climates.
“Inbound tourism is gaining momentum across multiple segments – not only traditional sightseeing and leisure travel, but also niche sectors such as ice and snow tourism, where China is emerging as a strong regional draw for short-haul visitors,” said Wu Liyun, a tourism professor at Beijing International Studies University.
China’s expanded
visa-free entry and visa-free transit schemes have lowered travel barriers and shortened planning cycles, helping position China as an increasingly accessible and competitive winter destination for overseas tourists, according to industry analysts.
As the peak winter travel period begins, destinations known for icy vistas or favourable conditions for winter sports are priority stops for travellers, with Altay in Xinjiang, Chongli in Hebei province and Changbai Mountain in northeastern China among those areas entering their busiest time of year.
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