As temperatures continue to fall, northern China is transforming its rich "cold resources" into hot consumer attractions — from slow-travel experiences in Heilongjiang's frost-covered forests to snowy holidays for schoolchildren in Xinjiang.
In China's northernmost city of Mohe, Heilongjiang Province, a tourism train carrying more than 300 passengers arrived on November 29.
The "slow travel, deep experience" route allows visitors to admire the ice and snow seen all along the journey.
"We have long wanted to take the 'Snow Country' train to Mohe to see the snow scenery. Along the way it's all birch forests, very beautiful - a snowy sea of forests - and we saw the Great Khingan Mountains from our textbooks," said a traveler from Zhejiang.
To meet soaring winter tourism demand, railway operators have added services between Harbin and Mohe, while civil aviation has increased flights between Mohe and other tourist cities in Heilongjiang, making travel more convenient.
In Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the city's primary and secondary schools launched their very first "snow holiday" from December 1 to 5. Combined with weekends, students can enjoy up to nine days of the winter holiday.
Local ski resorts rolled out free admission and consumer subsidies to celebrate this new seasonal policy and attract families to hit the slopes.
"I only had a little skiing experience before, so today I specifically found a coach to help me improve. I want to make the most of this snow holiday to improve my skiing skills," said Ding Yiyi, a student from Urumqi No.1 High School.
Meanwhile, in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, winter tourism is also gaining momentum.
On November 30, Baotou City's Darhan Muminggan United Banner hosted its winter Nadam festival, featuring a roster of traditional sports such as horse racing, camel racing, wrestling, and archery. Beyond the arena, steaming milk tea and sizzling lamb skewers offered visitors a taste of authentic grassland culture.
"So delicious, so fun! This is my first time here — I'm from Shenzhen — and my first time experiencing the vast and bold charm of the grassland. It's really interesting," said a tourist surnamed He, who traveled from Shenzhen City in south China's Guangdong Province.
China's northern regions fuel winter economy with ice-snow tourism
