China Ice and Snow Tourism Development Report 2020

[Pinchain Tourism] The 2022 Winter Olympics is drawing closer, bringing unprecedented opportunities to China’s ice and snow tourism. Traveling to snow-covered destinations has become a routine for winter tourists. On January 5, the 2020 China Ice and Snow Tourism Development Forum was held in Harbin, where the China Tourism Academy (Data Center of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism) released the “China Ice and Snow Tourism Development Report 2020.” According to the report, during the 2018-2019 snow season, China’s ice and snow tourism reached 224 million trips, generating approximately 386 billion yuan in revenue.

Meanwhile, the Data Center of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, in collaboration with the Ctrip Tourism Big Data Joint Laboratory, released the “China Ice and Snow Tourism Consumption Big Data Report (2020)” based on tens of thousands of ice and snow tourism products on Ctrip, along with millions of data points on package tours, independent travel, customized trips, and ticket bookings, as well as offline store reservations. The data on ice and snow tourism bookings was collected up to January 2020.

Yin Hang, General Manager of Ctrip’s Entertainment Business Division for North China, stated at the forum, “Ice and snow tourism has always been a key focus for Ctrip. We not only offer packaged travel products but also cover global ski resorts, snow-themed scenic spots, and local cultural experiences, providing one-stop services for snow travelers. With our rich product offerings, we can also offer comprehensive guidance to ice and snow tourists.”

Ice and Snow Tourism Popularity Ranking: Harbin Snow Town Ranks Highest, Winter Travel to Lhasa Becomes a Trend

Which destinations are the most popular for ice and snow tourism? According to booking data for package tours and independent travel, from November 2019 to January 2020, the most popular traditional ice and snow tourism destinations were Harbin, Hailin, Changchun, Shenyang, Mudanjiang, Baishan, Dalian, Shangzhi, Mohe, and Yanji. Compared to last year, Harbin and Hailin Snow Town remain the top two most popular cities, thanks to years of development in their ice and snow tourism routes and products, which have formed a relatively mature system, making them hot choices for snow travelers. As Shenyang’s ice and snow tourism projects, such as ice skating and skiing, continue to mature and become more suitable for southern visitors, the city has also successfully climbed into the top ranks.

How much does it cost to visit Snow Town this year? Take the “Harbin + Snow Town 5-Day 4-Night Package Tour (5-Diamond)” departing from Beijing as an example. This self-operated small group tour includes no shopping, private transfers, and accommodation at the Fuli Wanda Reign Hotel. The price for a January trip is 4,480 yuan.

Besides the traditional ice and snow tourism destinations, what are some emerging popular spots? According to booking data, the top ten emerging ice and snow tourism destinations for 2020 are Lhasa, Urumqi, Zhangjiakou, Shijiazhuang, Shennongjia, Xining, Nyingchi, Yinchuan, Hulunbuir, and Chengde.

The strong religious atmosphere of Tibet, combined with the serene backdrop of winter snowscapes, makes both Lhasa and Nyingchi emerging choices for travelers. Additionally, Hebei, Xinjiang, and Inner Mongolia are gradually becoming options for people seeking ice and snow tourism destinations, thanks to their unique tourism resources.

As for how much it costs to travel to Lhasa during the Spring Festival? A “5-day, 4-night Lhasa independent tour (5-diamond)” departing from Beijing includes round-trip airfare and accommodation at the Lhasa Holy Land Paradise InterContinental Hotel. The price for the first day of the Lunar New Year is 5,346 yuan, offering great value for money.

Popular Snow and Ice Routes Announced, Harbin-Yabuli-Snow Town Tour Most Favored

In 2020, popular snow and ice travel routes were still mainly in Northeast China, with the Harbin, Yabuli, and Snow Town route once again gaining recognition from tourists, topping the list as the most popular. The second and third most popular routes were cross-provincial routes spanning Jilin and Heilongjiang. A cross-provincial route between Beijing and Hebei also made it into the top ten. Unlike previous years, snow and ice routes in Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hubei saw significantly increased attention this year.

According to data on group tours and independent travel, the 5-day group tour (5-diamond) of Harbin + Yabuli Ski Resort + Snow Town, the 6-day 5-night group tour (4-diamond) of Jilin City + Changbai Mountain + Jingpo Lake + Snow Town + Yabuli Ski Resort + Harbin, and the 6-day 5-night group tour (5-diamond) of Changchun + Changbai Mountain + Harbin were among the most popular routes.

Ice and snow group tours account for 62%, with “new group tours” emerging as a fresh force in winter travel

When it comes to travel types, based on booking data, most travelers opt for group tours, making up 62% of the total. Meanwhile, 30% of travelers choose independent travel for more flexible arrangements. Another 8% go for a higher-end option, customizing their trips for a more personalized experience.

The data shows that group tours remain the primary way for travelers to visit ice and snow destinations, as they eliminate the hassle of trip planning and provide full-time guide services—a convenient and hassle-free way to travel. Notably, customized tours are gaining more acceptance among travelers, with diverse needs being increasingly met.

In recent years, group tours have been evolving, shaking off their traditional image of big buses and large groups, noisy crowds of all kinds, cookie-cutter itineraries, rushed sightseeing, and poor accommodations and meals. New forms of group tour products have emerged, such as private tours, small-group tours, destination-based tours, and 5-diamond high-end tours, leading Chinese travelers to rediscover the appeal of the hassle-free, full-service travel agency experience.

According to group tour data, in the snow tourism sector, the share of new-style group tours has reached 32%, becoming an emerging travel mode for visitors heading to snow destinations. Small-group, personalized, themed, and high-quality products are now the new themes of snow tourism.

2020 Snow Tourism Spending Report: Xiamen and Shenzhen Averaging Over 6,000 Yuan Per Person

Snow tourism has always held a strong appeal for travelers from southern China, and heading north to see snow in winter has become a trend in recent years. According to data from both group tours and independent travel, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Beijing remain the top three source cities for snow tourism, with the top 20 source cities being: Shanghai, Guangzhou, Beijing, Nanjing, Wuhan, Hangzhou, Shenzhen, Changsha, Zhengzhou, Chengdu, Nanchang, Chongqing, Guiyang, Hefei, Xiamen, Kunming, Xi’an, Wuxi, Tianjin, and Nanning.

So, among the package tours chosen by most tourists, which are the top ten cities with the strongest spending power? According to the data, tourists from Xiamen top the list with an average per capita spending of 6,072 yuan, while Shenzhen tourists also see a per capita spending of over 6,000 yuan on single package tours. Shanghai and Zhuhai rank third and fourth with 5,789 yuan and 5,646 yuan respectively, followed by Hangzhou, Kunming, Fuzhou, Wuxi, Guangzhou, and Jinan. As ice and snow tourism continues to mature, tourism products are also increasing, options are expanding, and the willingness to spend is growing.

Ice and Snow Scenic Spots Become Holiday Havens, Four Major Snow Mountains Draw Massive Crowds

This winter, which leisure ice and snow attractions are the most popular among tourists? According to data from Ctrip’s global entertainment platform, the Ice and Snow World, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Xiling Snow Mountain, China Snow Town, Jiazi Snow Mountain, Yinji Ice and Snow World, Window of the World Alpine Ice and Snow World, Snow Valley, Sun Island Snow Expo, and Meili Snow Mountain have become the hottest destinations this season.

Notably, ice and snow parks across northern and southern regions are attracting tourists. The winter snowfall has given many domestic scenic spots a fresh look, with popular snow mountains like Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Xiling Snow Mountain, Jiazi Snow Mountain, and Meili Snow Mountain displaying unique charm in the winter.

Exploring Locally Like a Local, Folk Cuisine Becomes a Must-Do

Beyond the usual skiing and hot springs, experiencing local culture with locals has become a new trend in winter tourism, highlighting young people’s strong demand for other snow-and-ice entertainment activities.

According to Ctrip’s local tour guide data, in Northeast China, tasting local cuisine, foraging for plants, and trying the “throwing boiling water into freezing air” trick are popular domestic spending hotspots. Abroad, village experiences and private kimono photoshoots in Japan, as well as forest walks in the U.S., have become must-do activities for outbound travelers.