The development of China’s ice and snow economy has reached a critical inflection point, transitioning from a state-supported initiative into a self-sustaining pillar of the national consumer market. As of January 2026, the sector has officially surpassed a valuation of 1.2 trillion yuan, approximately $165 billion.
This milestone follows a decade of intensive expansion that has few parallels in the global leisure industry. What began as a strategic push to generate interest for the 2022 Winter Olympics has matured into a sophisticated ecosystem of tourism, high-tech manufacturing, and urban-rural integration. This growth is no longer merely a byproduct of policy but is driven by a genuine shift in domestic consumption patterns, reshaping local economies from the mountains of Xinjiang to the industrial hubs of the north and even the tropical cities of the south.
The statistical momentum of the industry highlights a significant structural shift. During the first month of the current 2025–2026 snow season, China’s ski resorts recorded 35 million visits, representing a 10 percent increase over the previous year. Even more notable is the surge in international interest. Foreign arrivals at snow destinations reached 190,000 in the same period, a 66 percent increase from the prior season.
Over the last decade, the ice and snow sector has maintained an average annual growth rate exceeding 20 percent. Related consumer spending has jumped by more than 25 percent, now exceeding 187.5 billion yuan. These figures suggest that the “cold” economy is one of the most resilient segments of China’s modern service industry, resisting broader economic headwinds through a combination of infrastructure investment and evolving lifestyle preferences among the middle class.
A primary driver of this revenue growth is the emergence of destination-style resorts. These facilities are modelled less on the traditional, sport-focused alpine villages of Europe and more on integrated leisure complexes. While these high-end destinations represent only about 4 percent of the total number of ski areas in China, they capture nearly 29 percent of all skier visits nationwide.
This concentration of demand reflects a consumer preference for “lifestyle” tourism over pure athletics. These resorts have successfully decoupled their revenue from the limitations of the winter season by positioning themselves as four-season hubs. At Taiwoo Ski Resort in the Olympic zone of Chongli, for instance, nearly 70 percent of its 2.6 million annual visitors now arrive during the summer months. By offering mountain biking, music festivals, alpine water parks, and pet-friendly camping, these resorts maintain high occupancy rates throughout the year, ensuring the long-term viability of the heavy capital investments required for their construction.
The rapid scaling of this industry is inextricably linked to the expansion of China’s high-speed rail network. Infrastructure has been the great equalizer in the winter sports market, turning remote mountain ranges into accessible weekend destinations for urban professionals. A commute from Beijing to the premier slopes of Hebei now takes less than an hour, facilitating a “short-break” culture where two- or three-day trips have become the industry standard.
Beyond transportation, the physical infrastructure of the resorts themselves has seen a massive upgrade. According to the 2024–2025 China Ski Industry White Book, the number of drag and aerial lifts has increased by 643 percent over the last decade. This shift toward modern lift systems is significant; although these well-equipped resorts make up only a quarter of the total facilities, they account for over 60 percent of all skier visits. This indicates a maturing market where participants are moving away from beginner slopes toward more challenging terrain that requires professional-grade infrastructure.
By integrating sports with culture, technology, and year-round tourism, China has established a winter sports ecosystem that is unique in its scale and speed of development. The “cold” economy is no longer a seasonal curiosity; it is a permanent and growing component of the national economic strategy, providing a blueprint for how leisure and consumption can drive high-tech manufacturing and regional growth in the 21st century.
A unique characteristic of the Chinese market is its heavy reliance on indoor skiing, which has served as a critical entry point for the industry. China currently hosts more than half of the world’s 130 indoor ski facilities. These centers function as “skier factories,” converting approximately five million beginners into active enthusiasts every year.
By removing the constraints of geography and climate, indoor resorts have allowed the winter sports lifestyle to take root in southern provinces where natural snow is non-existent. In cities like Guangzhou and Shenzhen, indoor facilities have become major tourism magnets. The Bonski flagship in Guangzhou, for example, saw its international visits surpass one million in 2024 alone.
This success has allowed Chinese operators to begin exporting their management models and technology. Chinese firms are now partnering with local counterparts to develop and manage Australia’s first major indoor ski resort, signaling China’s transition from a consumer of winter sports culture to a primary exporter of its logistical and operational frameworks.
The influx of international visitors is a relatively new but rapidly accelerating trend. Inbound tourism bookings for China’s snow destinations have nearly doubled this winter, with growth in Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia exceeding 130 percent. Southeast Asian travelers now account for nearly 70 percent of foreign arrivals, a trend supported by expanded visa-free entry policies. For many of these visitors, the appeal of the Chinese model lies in its accessibility.
Unlike established Western markets where there is a high barrier to entry regarding gear ownership and technical knowledge, Chinese resorts are built for the newcomer. Services are streamlined, with high-quality equipment rental, multilingual instruction, and tech-integrated logistics— such as gear-delivery services and app-based hotel coordination— becoming the industry standard. In the first ten days of January 2026, airline bookings to Altay rose by 50 percent, illustrating the global pull of China’s northwestern “powder” regions.
As the market matures, there is a visible shift in consumer sophistication. Chinese skiers are increasingly trading up from entry-level rental equipment to high-performance, technical gear. This has made the country a top-tier priority for global brands. International suppliers from Vermont, Canada, and Denmark report that demand for equipment from Chinese resorts has tripled this season. Brands such as Hootie Hoo and Loop Division have noted that Chinese consumers are now focused on safety certifications, durability, and brand identity.
This demand for premium products has also invigorated the domestic manufacturing sector. Firms in Shenzhen and other industrial hubs, which previously focused on the export of winter apparel, are now pivoting to the domestic market. Savior Heat, a manufacturer of electric heated gear, reported a 40 percent surge in domestic online sales this year. Younger consumers are particularly interested in tech-enabled apparel, such as Bluetooth-integrated helmets and app-controlled heating systems, which align with China’s broader strength in consumer electronics.
The economic impact of the ice and snow industry extends beyond the sports themselves, serving as a vital tool for rural revitalization. In historically underdeveloped regions, the winter sports boom has provided a new economic lifeline, creating thousands of jobs in instruction, hospitality, and equipment maintenance. The government’s “Plan for the High-Quality Development of the Ice and Snow Economy” targets a 1.5 trillion yuan valuation by 2030, a goal that appears increasingly realistic given the current trajectory.
By integrating sports with culture, technology, and year-round tourism, China has established a winter sports ecosystem that is unique in its scale and speed of development. The “cold” economy is no longer a seasonal curiosity; it is a permanent and growing component of the national economic strategy, providing a blueprint for how leisure and consumption can drive high-tech manufacturing and regional growth in the 21st century.
