Honolulu’s Travel Industry Explores China’s Expanding Ice & Snow Tourism in Harbin, Jilin, and Xinjiang : New Travel Updates You Need to Know

China’s 2025 Ice & Snow Tourism Overseas Promotion has officially made its way to the United States, bringing attention to the country’s winter destinations. Launched on February 28, 2025, in Honolulu, Hawaii, the event showcased China’s winter landscapes, sports, and cultural tourism offerings. More than 100 travel industry professionals and media representatives attended the event, which included a photo exhibition titled Dreams of Ice and Snow in China, a film screening, and a cultural showcase aimed at promoting China’s winter tourism economy.

The promotional campaign was part of the larger “Nihao! China” initiative, an ongoing international effort to introduce global audiences to China’s expanding winter tourism sector. As China’s winter travel industry continues to gain global momentum, events like this highlight the country’s commitment to making ice and snow tourism a core part of its international tourism strategy.

Promoting China’s Winter Destinations to the Global Travel Market

The 2025 Ice & Snow Tourism Promotion was organized by the Network of International Culturalink Entities of China, in collaboration with the China National Tourist Office in Los Angeles. Additional partners included the Departments of Culture and Tourism of Heilongjiang, Shanxi, Jilin, and Xinjiang, as well as the Lhasa Culture and Tourism Bureau.

According to Dawei Wu, Director of the China National Tourist Office in Los Angeles, China’s winter destinations have been seeing increasing interest from both local and international travelers. He explained that adventure sports, ice festivals, ice fishing, and even the simple pleasure of admiring frost-covered mountains are driving a significant boom in the winter tourism economy. Wu emphasized that China’s tourism industry has made substantial infrastructure upgrades to cater to global tourists and is now offering diverse winter tourism products that are being promoted worldwide.

Wu further stated that the aim of the event was to introduce these winter destinations to Hawaii’s travel industry in the hopes that China’s snow and ice tourism attractions would be included in tour packages to Asia.

Global Promotional Campaign Extends to Australia and Japan

The Hawaii event was only one segment of the broader Nihao! China campaign, which has been hosting promotional events worldwide. The initiative kicked off with a launch ceremony on January 5, 2025, in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province—one of China’s most famous winter destinations, home to the renowned Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival. Following the U.S. event, the campaign also made its way to Sydney, Australia, on February 26, 2025, and then to Tokyo, Japan, on March 3, 2025, where a China-Japan Tourism Business Exchange Meeting was held to strengthen winter tourism partnerships.

By hosting these events across multiple continents, China aims to solidify its place as a leading winter travel destination and attract visitors from diverse international markets.

China’s Ice & Snow Tourism as a Key Economic Driver

China’s commitment to winter tourism development is part of a larger national strategy that aligns with the principle of “Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets, and so are ice and snow-covered landscapes.” This approach acknowledges that winter landscapes and tourism resources hold significant economic and cultural value, just like natural green landscapes.

The 2025 promotional campaign is being supported by the International Cooperation Department of the National Radio and Television Administration, the Silk Road Tourism Cities Alliance, and China Eastern Airlines, which has partnered to help facilitate travel access to China’s winter regions.

China has invested significantly in winter tourism infrastructure, developing new ski resorts, winter cultural festivals, and advanced transportation networks to support travel to these seasonal destinations. The country’s government has continued to promote winter travel as a means of economic diversification, strengthening regional economies in Heilongjiang, Jilin, Xinjiang, and Tibet (Lhasa) while positioning China as a global leader in ice and snow tourism.

How China’s Winter Tourism Impacts the Global Travel Industry

The global impact of China’s expanding winter tourism sector is undeniable. As the country enhances its infrastructure and marketing outreach, travel agencies worldwide are beginning to incorporate China’s winter destinations into their Asia tour packages.

For international travelers, this means more opportunities to experience China’s winter festivals, luxury ski resorts, and unique snow-covered landscapes. With increasing interest in adventure travel, China’s ski destinations and winter sports offerings are expected to compete with major European and North American ski resorts, potentially shifting global travel patterns.

Some of the key winter attractions highlighted during the promotional event include:

Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival (Heilongjiang) – One of the largest ice and snow festivals in the world, featuring massive ice sculptures, nighttime light displays, and winter performances.
Changbai Mountain Ski Resorts (Jilin Province) – A premier ski destination in China, offering world-class skiing, hot springs, and winter hiking experiences.
Altay Snow Sports Tourism (Xinjiang Province) – A region known for its ancient skiing traditions, where travelers can experience unique winter landscapes and traditional Mongolian yurts.
Lhasa Winter Travel (Tibet Autonomous Region) – A winter season destination offering a more serene and cultural experience, with fewer crowds at Tibet’s iconic monasteries and palaces.

These winter travel experiences not only provide diverse options for global tourists but also enhance China’s appeal as a year-round tourism destination.

The Future of China’s Ice & Snow Tourism

China’s growing reputation as a winter tourism hotspot suggests that international demand for winter travel packages to China will continue to increase in the coming years. The promotional events in the U.S., Australia, and Japan indicate that China is targeting a broad global market, aiming to attract travelers from regions where winter sports and snow-related travel are growing in popularity.

With major airlines like China Eastern Airlines supporting this initiative, travel accessibility is expected to improve, making it easier for international visitors to explore China’s ice and snow destinations.

For the global travel industry, China’s commitment to winter tourism presents new opportunities for travel agencies, tour operators, and hospitality providers looking to expand their offerings. As more international partnerships develop between China and other winter tourism markets, the global landscape of ice and snow travel is set to become more competitive and diversified.

Conclusion: China’s Growing Influence in Global Winter Tourism

China’s 2025 Ice & Snow Tourism Overseas Promotion represents a major step in the country’s efforts to establish itself as a leading winter tourism destination. Through events like the one held in Hawaii, China is not only showcasing its breathtaking winter landscapes but also positioning itself as a strong competitor in the global winter tourism market.

As more international travelers seek unique winter experiences, China’s investment in infrastructure, cultural tourism, and winter sports is expected to pay off, attracting millions of new visitors each year. The continued expansion of ice and snow tourism will not only benefit China’s economy but will also influence the global tourism industry, offering travelers new and exciting winter destinations to explore in the years ahead.