China's ski resorts report 10 pct visitor growth in first month of new snow season

China's 2025-2026 ice and snow season kicked off with impressive momentum, as ski resorts welcomed 35 million visitors in the first month, representing an increase of 10 percent year-on-year, according to the Sports Economy Department of the General Administration of Sport of China (GASC).

Notably, ski resorts across the country welcomed 190,000 international visitors, a 66 percent jump compared to the same period last year, reflecting the success of widened visa-free entry.

This strong start translated into robust consumer spending, driving sales to 36.35 billion yuan, up 6 percent from the previous year, the GASC reported.

A separate report on China’s ice and snow industry development for 2025 has revealed that between 2016 and 2024, the sector expanded rapidly - growing from 364.7 billion yuan (about 51.9 billion U.S. dollars) to 980 billion yuan (about 139.4 billion U.S. dollars), with an average annual growth rate of 21.09 percent. The industry is projected to exceed 1 trillion yuan (approximately 142 billion U.S. dollars) this year.

China's ice and snow economy has achieved leapfrog development in recent years, characterized by the continuous expansion of its market scale and ongoing refinement of the industrial chain. By March 2025, the number of enterprises related to the sector had reached 18,492.

Revenue from equipment manufacturing, in particular, rose from 15.3 billion yuan (about 2.2 billion U.S. dollars) in 2019 to 22 billion yuan (about 3.1 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023, marking a compound annual growth rate of 9.5 percent.

Indoor ski resorts have experienced explosive growth, surging from just 5 in the 2013-2014 season to 59 in the 2023-2024 season. Meanwhile, ice-skating venues have become increasingly widespread across the country. By April 2025, China had 1,725 dedicated skating venues, including facilities for figure skating, ice hockey, curling, recreational skating, and speed skating.

According to data from the 2023-2024 ice and snow season, China hosted 19 international and 91 domestic events nationwide - a 50 percent increase in domestic events compared to the previous season.

China's ski resorts report 10 pct visitor growth in first month of new snow season

China firmly opposes the United States' decision to impose additional Section 301 tariffs on Chinese semiconductor products and has lodged a solemn representation to the U.S. side, a Ministry of Commerce spokeswoman said at a press conference on Thursday.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced the results of its Section 301 investigation into Chinese semiconductor policies, stating it will impose additional tariffs on certain Chinese semiconductor products. The initial tariff rate is set at zero percent and is scheduled to increase after an 18-month period, in June 2027.

In response to a media query on the U.S. announcement, He Yongqian, the spokeswoman, said, "China has taken note of the relevant developments and has lodged stern representations with the U.S. through the China-U.S. economic and trade consultation mechanism. We do not agree with the so-called findings of the U.S. Section 301 investigation and firmly oppose the U.S. move to levy additional Section 301 tariffs on Chinese semiconductor products."

"The unilateral U.S. tariffs violate World Trade Organization rules, undermine the international economic and trade order, disrupt global industrial and supply chains, and harm the interests of U.S. businesses and consumers, a move that benefits no one. China urges the United States to promptly correct its erroneous practices and revoke the related measures. China is willing to work with the U.S. on the basis of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation to resolve respective concerns through equal-footed dialogue and consultation. Should the U.S. side insist on undermining China's rights and interests, China will take resolute and necessary measures to firmly safeguard its own rights and interests," said the spokeswoman.

China strongly opposes U.S. Section 301 tariffs on Chinese semiconductors