The 2026–2027 ice and snow tourism consumption season officially kicked off nationwide on November 10, as travelers increasingly chose complex, multi-scenario itineraries and family-oriented study tours, finance.eastmoney.com reported.
Demand for family-focused study excursions is projected to climb by more than 30% compared to previous seasons.
Southern provinces account for roughly 60% of winter tourism bookings in Northeast and North China. Guangdong stands as the single largest cross-provincial source market for Northeast winter travel.
Travelers from the Northeast largely consist of middle-aged and young adults aged 21 to 40, making up over 60% of the regional demographic. Meanwhile, visitors heading to Xinjiang skew even younger, with the 21-to-30 age bracket representing 44.9% of total arrivals.
Indoor ski resorts have successfully converted winter leisure into a year-round economic driver. Between January and October 2026, national indoor ski venue visits jumped 31% year-over-year.
About 20% of indoor skiing enthusiasts eventually transition to outdoor slopes. This crossover helps fuel broader winter destinations across northern provinces.
Over 60% of tourists purchase their flight tickets within seven days of departure, and more than 80% lock down their hotel accommodations less than three days before arrival.
Since ski resorts in northern China began opening in early November, the country's new ice-snow tourism season has started to gain momentum earlier than usual, according to major online travel agencies and industry experts on Sunday.https://t.co/oULmnSFl75 pic.twitter.com/EochONJEu6
The northern “ice and snow smiling curve” remains the primary hub, anchored by Harbin, which ranks first nationwide in overnight visitor volume.
Xinjiang’s Altay region is rapidly emerging as a dark horse contender, while Mohe claims the top spot among county-level winter destinations. Shanghai currently leads the country in indoor ice and snow consumption.
The city of Harbin held a press conference on November 10 detailing more than 100 themed winter activities spanning culture, sports, and tourism, 人民网黑龙江频道 reported. The 28th Harbin Ice and Snow World will expand its footprint to 125万平方米 and feature a dedicated 2-square-kilometer-fractional-scale Frozen-themed zone in partnership with Walt Disney (China).
The Heilongjiang Provincial Government General Office recently issued an implementation plan for a 100-day winter tourism action running from November 8, 2026, to February 28, 2027, 凤凰网 reported. The plan targets a 7% increase in visitor arrivals and an 8% rise in total tourism spending over previous high-water marks.
The Mandarin Culture and Tourism Group announced tailored product enhancements ranging from expanded snow sculpture exhibits at the Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Art Exposition to high-tech night illumination at the Saint Sophia Cathedral, 搜狐网 reported.
