Discover the leading winter destinations in China, with 360 million trips expected and 450 billion yuan in tourism revenue this season.
China’s winter tourism is booming. According to the China Ice and Snow Tourism Development Report (2026) released by the China Tourism Academy on Jan. 5th, winter leisure trips in China are expected to reach 360 million during the 2025–2026 season, reported by CNS.
The report was unveiled at the Ice and Snow Tourism Development Forum 2026 in Harbin. It shows that tourism revenue from ice and snow activities could reach 450 billion yuan (about £47.7 billion), with 220 million travellers visiting mainly for winter sports and snow tourism.
On the same day, the forum announced the “Top 10 Ice and Snow Tourism Cities of 2026”. The list includes Harbin, Shenyang, Changchun, Zhangjiakou, Beijing’s Yanqing District, Mudanjiang, Jilin City, Hulunbuir, Ürümqi, and Yichun.
Meanwhile, the General Administration of Sport of China recently published the China Ice and Snow Economy Development Report (2025). It shows that the ice and snow industry experienced rapid growth from 2016 to 2024, increasing from 364.7 billion yuan (about £38.6 billion) to 980 billion yuan (about £104 billion). The average annual growth rate reached 21.09%, and the sector is expected to surpass 1 trillion yuan (around £106 billion) in 2025.
Experts say this growth reflects a surge in both domestic tourism and investment in winter sports infrastructure. As more cities develop ice and snow tourism, China’s winter travel market is set to expand further.
If you liked this article, why not read: China’s Ice-and-Snow Tourism Turns Winter Into a Peak Travel Season.
