China Breaks New Ground with 313 Million People Engaging in Winter Sports Since Beijing 2022

Winter sports have gained significant momentum in China, with around 313 million individuals embracing these activities since the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.

Since the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, approximately 313 million people in China have participated in ice and snow sports or related recreational activities.

This data was shared by Yang Xuedong, head of the Economic Department at the State General Administration of Sport (SGAS), during the annual National Sports Bureau Directors Conference on Wednesday.

Just two months ago, China announced a bold initiative to expand its ice and snow economy. The plan focuses on leveraging winter sports, tourism, and equipment manufacturing as pivotal sectors, aiming to achieve a market value of 1.5 trillion yuan (about 211 billion US dollars) by 2030.

Yang revealed that the SGAS, in collaboration with the Information Survey Center of the National Bureau of Statistics, conducted a study on public participation in ice and snow sports.

The findings indicate that, two years after the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, interest in winter sports among Chinese citizens continues to rise.

Between November 1 and December 20, ski resorts in Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region saw a 50.49% year-on-year increase in bookings, accompanied by a 58.41% surge in spending. Additionally, hotel bookings within 5 kilometers of these ski resorts rose by 27.85%, with corresponding consumption increasing by 20.41%.

During the 2023-2024 snow season, Xinjiang welcomed 92.6 million tourists, marking a remarkable 147.78% increase compared to the previous year. Tourism revenue also soared to 106.7 billion yuan (approximately 14.6 billion dollars), reflecting a 263.74% year-on-year growth.

Shang Hongbo, Deputy Director of the Sports Bureau of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, highlighted Xinjiang’s ambitious strategy to capitalize on its abundant ice and snow resources, aiming to transform the region into a premier global destination for winter sports and tourism.

The growing enthusiasm for ice and snow sports has driven rapid development in related infrastructure across China. By 2023, the country boasted 2,847 ice and snow sports venues, including 1,912 ice skating facilities and 935 skiing venues, which extend beyond traditionally snow-rich regions.

As of the close of 2023, Guangdong Province in southern China is home to 24 ice skating venues and 10 skiing facilities.