China's winter tourism has kicked off the new year with remarkable momentum, driven by surging inbound travel and enhanced transportation connectivity.
Official data showed that nearly 70 percent of these international visitors entering China during this period come from Southeast Asia, drawn by favorable policies such as visa exemptions that are making China a growing choice for global winter sports enthusiasts.
As the peak season for winter travel unfolds, popular skiing destinations including Altay in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Chongli in north China's Hebei Province, and Changbai Mountain in northeast China are experiencing a significant rise in arrivals.
By Saturday, more than 35,000 flight tickets to Altay had been booked domestically, marking a year-on-year increase of approximately 50 percent.
Airfares widely dropped after the New Year holiday period, further attracting deal-seeking travelers.
On major airline sales platforms, direct flights from cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Hangzhou to Altay are now available at discounts of around 70 percent off.
China Southern Airlines has added multiple direct routes to and from Altay, while Hainan Airlines has launched 14 routes connecting Harbin with 19 major domestic cities.
In addition to air travel, high-speed rail has become a preferred option for skiers.
China Railway Harbin Group has increased daily high-speed train services between Harbin and Yabuli, one of China’s premier skiing destinations, to 38 round-trip departures, with intervals as short as 12 minutes.
In collaboration with the Shenyang Group, it has also launched a 15-day rail pass for travel in northeast China, providing flexibility for multiple journeys within the validity period.
Meanwhile, overnight tourist trains are now operating regularly between major cities and popular ski resort destinations.
In Xinjiang, a train departing from Urumqi Station at 23:40 arrives in Altay at 09:00 the following day, while the return service leaves Altay at 23:38 and reaches Urumqi by 08:58.
This overnight model cuts travel time by up to four hours compared to daytime services in the same direction, enabling passengers to rest during the journey and arrive at the ski resorts refreshed in the morning.
China's winter tourism surges with boosted inbound visitors, facilitated travel services
