Winter sports destinations across China are drawing a growing number of international visitors as China makes efforts to boost its ice and snow economy.
This trend is evident at the ski resorts in Zhangjiakou's Chongli District, a co-host of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics in north China's Hebei Province, where visitors from all over the world have been coming to hit the slopes.
"I learned about this place on social media. My children are on vacation, and this is their first time seeing snow," said James, a visitor from Singapore.
Similarly, sites across China have seen booming interest from visitors coming from countries where it never snows, according Ctrip, China's leading online travel agency.
"From November to February next year, bookings for ski resorts and ice-and-snow scenic spots in China have surged by about 70 percent year on year. Inbound travel orders nearly doubled, with growth rates in Hebei, Xinjiang, and Inner Mongolia all exceeding 130 percent. Notably, Southeast Asian tourists account for nearly 70 percent of inbound visitors," said Liu Ting, director of public affairs at Ctrip.
To attract more international visitors, local governments across China are implementing simplified entry and streamlined immigration policies. For instance, the entry-exit administration department in Shenyang recently launched a "quick extension" visa service. This allows foreign tourists to obtain a stay extension of up to 30 days, with visas delivered by mail to avoid disrupting their travel plans.
"At first, I was going to stay for a few days, but now because of this new policy, I'm going to extend for one more month, so I can see the snow and have fun on my vacation," said Kenza, a tourist from Morocco.
China's ski slopes see influx of overseas visitors
