Winter sector sees profits snowball

More than 8,500 Chinese companies are currently involved in ice- and snow-related business, with about 55 percent of those established over the past five years. [Photo provided to China Daily]

The increasing number of indoor ski venues opening nationwide over the past two years-especially medium and large-scale venues in the southern part of China-has helped drive the growth in participation numbers.

In 2020, 2.69 million people went skiing at indoor ski venues in China, accounting for 21 percent of the total number of people who went skiing during the year. Nationwide, there were 36 indoor ski resorts by the end of 2020, the highest globally, according to an industry research report by the Beijing Ski Association.

"From 2014 to 2020, the number of ski resorts and the quality of facilities have improved significantly. The number of skiers in China has risen from about 10 million in 2014 to more than 20 million in 2020, which is more than a 100 percent surge," said Wu Bin, vice-chairman of the Beijing Ski Association and a distinguished visiting lecturer at Beijing Sport University.

During the three-day New Year's holiday in early January, ice and snow trips were among the most popular activities for Chinese travelers. Nationwide, the booking volumes of hotels near ski resorts, and the booking volumes of admission tickets for ski venues and related ice and snow sightseeing spots all surged over 110 percent compared to the previous season, according to Suzhou-based online travel agency Tongcheng Travel.