Students in several provinces in China’s northeastern and northwestern regions are celebrating their first “snow holidays”, which have boosted winter tourism.
Primary and secondary school students in Altay and Urumqi in Northwest China’s Xinjiang are enjoying a five-day “snow holiday” that started on December 1st, while students in compulsory education across Northeast China’s Jilin Province have a “snow break” from December 3rd to 7th.
Strong Enthusiasm for Travelling
Chinese online travel platform Qunar announced on December 1st that, following Jilin’s declaration of “snow holidays,” ticket bookings for attractions in the province during the break increased by 26 per cent week-on-week and 13 per cent year-on-year. During the period, the top five most-booked attractions in the province include the Changbai Mountain scenic area and Jingyuetan National Forest Park.
The break has also sparked strong enthusiasm among residents of Jilin for outbound travel. According to Qunar data, air ticket bookings for flights departing from Changchun, Jilin’s capital, have surged 57 per cent week-on-week.
And after Urumqi and Altay officially announced “snow holidays,” outbound bookings from both cities surged more than 45 per cent week-on-week, with routes to warm southern cities proving especially popular.
“I’m so jealous of the students in these areas,” said Li Qin, a Beijing resident. “I love skiing and take a week of paid leave to ski every year. I hope the snow holiday can be popularised in other provinces so my future children can enjoy the white fairyland.”
Leverage Tourism Resources
Pan Helin, a member of the Expert Committee for the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, said that “snow holidays” are a tailored policy that allows local governments to leverage their unique tourism resources, which have boosted ice-and-snow tourism and effectively stimulated local consumption.
According to the official website of the Jilin provincial government, during the snow holidays, all 171 A-level tourist attractions open in winter and 39 qualified, regulated ski resorts and ice rinks across the province will implement policies such as free admission for primary and secondary school students and discounted tickets for accompanying parents.
During the break, students from Altay will have free access to multiple local ski resorts as well as free public transit within Altay city. Local cultural venues, libraries and museums will launch a flurry of ice-and snow-themed cultural events.
In addition to “snow holidays,” many regions in China are exploring new types of school breaks for primary and secondary students, such as spring and autumn holidays. The core purpose is to encourage students to participate in study tours, sports, and other cultural and recreational activities during these breaks, thereby promoting their physical and mental well-being through rich real-world experiences.
Written by Yetao Gu, additional reporting by China Daily and Global Times.
If you liked this article, why not read: Why China Is Introducing Spring and Autumn School Breaks
