A winter tourism boom is taking hold in southwest China's Sichuan Province, fueled by a mix of large-scale indoor ski facilities and high-altitude outdoor resorts.
These destinations are blending winter sports with local culture and dining, creating novel experiences such as eating hotpot on the snow and offering new paths for rural economic development.
In Dujiangyan City, an indoor ski resort spanning over 50,000 square meters is attracting visitors with its professional facilities and winter entertainment park.
The venue features an advanced slope with a gradient exceeding 21 degrees, alongside seven slopes of varying difficulty designed to accommodate skiers of all skill levels.
"I often come here to ski on weekends. The slopes are excellent. Basically, I never encounter icy patches or caught edges when I ski," said Liu Fang, a ski lover.
The resort also holds a dedicated 5,000-square-meter snow park where children can gather and play on slides.
This year, it introduced snow-themed activities like Touhu game, or Pitch-pot, an ancient entertainment that requires players to throw rugby or arrows from a set distance into a tube.
Visitors can also eat hotpot on-site, transforming the professional venue into a shared leisure space.
"I got a bit hungry after skiing, and then I happened to see this hotpot place. Eating hotpot in the snow is quite a unique experience," said Deng Ting, a ski lover.
Furthermore, the resort has launched business models like "snow plus study tours" and "snow plus sports training."
"We currently offer ice-and-snow study tour courses, along with skiing and snow play programs. We also host youth competitions to get more children involved in winter sports. We also have packages like snow-and-hot-spring activities, mainly aimed at creating new themed experiences for visitors and enthusiasts nationwide," said Yu Ronghui, manager of the ski resort.
Meanwhile, in Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, outdoor ski resorts are flourishing.
At the Qiangrengu Ski Resort in Wenchuan County, situated at an altitude of over 3,200 meters, natural and artificial snow ensure a season lasting up to four months.
The location, just over two hours' drive from the provincial capital of Chengdu, makes it ideal for convenient day trips.
The resort features 10 slopes totaling over four kilometers in length, with a maximum vertical drop of 98 meters. Recent upgrades include acceleration platforms, new pine forest slopes, and a terrain park.
The resort incorporates local Qiang ethnic culture. Traditional performances like the shoulder-bell dance are staged during peak visitor periods.
Guests can also enjoy local snacks and purchase Qiang embroidery or cultural products.
Last season, this ski resort received over 120,000 visitors, driving up related revenue in catering and accommodation industries to more than 97 million yuan (around 13.72 million U.S. dollars).
In Heishui County, also in Aba Prefecture, the local Dagu glacier scenic area has expanded from sightseeing to a comprehensive "ice-snow plus sports plus culture" model.
At the Dagu Glacier viewing platform, 4,860 meters above sea level, visitors are surrounded by continuous snow-capped mountains and ancient glaciers. Accessible by what is described as the world's highest-altitude passenger cableway, the site offers a dramatic, changing views with every step.
The area now offers snowmobiling, ice bumper cars, and a dedicated "4860" ski run. It has also added ice sculptures, VR exploration experiences, and cafes.
This year, visitor arrivals have surpassed 230,000, a year-on-year increase of 9.71 percent.
The tourism boom benefits nearby villages.
Yangrong Hade Village, with its rows of Tibetan-style houses, has developed into a homestay cluster.
"During the peak tourist season, rooms are fully booked at least two weeks in advance. Last year, our collective homestay income reached 6.2 million yuan. After the distribution, even the household with the lowest dividend received over 80,000 yuan," said He Gang, a village official.
The surge has activated the entire industrial chain: Tibetan hotpot and specialty agricultural products have become must-try items, and young people are returning to work in homestays, as tour guides, or drivers.
In the past month, the village's homestay and catering revenue increased by 25 percent compared to the same period last year.
Indoor, outdoor skiing ignite winter tourism boom in Sichuan
