by sportswriters Duan Xu, Li Dian and Yao Shi
CHANGCHUN, China, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Snow blankets the Changbai Mountains in winter as skiers descend the slopes at Beidahu and Lake Songhua resorts in northeast China's Jilin Province.
This season, the province is using major sporting events and upgraded services to turn its ice and snow resources into a driver of tourism, aiming to raise its international profile as a winter destination.
RESORTS, GLOBAL EVENTS DRIVE JILIN'S WINTER TOURISM
Known for deep, compact powder snow and relatively mild winds, Jilin is home to Beidahu, Asia's largest single-body ski resort, and Lake Songhua Resort, which has been named China's best ski resort by the World Ski Awards for nine consecutive years. The two resorts have also led China in visitor numbers for five straight seasons.
In recent years, Jilin has relied on high-level competitions to promote winter sports and tourism.
Each year, the China Changchun Jingyuetan Vasaloppet International Ski Festival opens the season at Jingyuetan National Forest Park. One of the world's largest cross-country skiing events, it has been held 24 times and has attracted more than 1.2 million participants.
At the 2026 edition, 2,227 athletes and enthusiasts from 33 countries and regions, including Sweden, the Czech Republic and Poland, competed in Changchun.
"This is my second time at Vasaloppet China. I celebrated my 66th birthday here and my bib number was also 66," said Polish skiing enthusiast Halina Olejniczak. "I love the skiing environment and atmosphere here. I will bring my family next year."
"I enjoyed the speed of the race and the undulating track. The water stations along the route were very thoughtful and helped me perform well," said Anna Melnika, champion of the women's 25-kilometer group from Kazakhstan. "I know the Winter World University Games will be held here next year, and I believe it will be just as spectacular."
Changchun will host the 33rd Winter World University Games, also known as the Winter Universiade, and has accelerated venue upgrades and preparations. With more than 300 days to go, the provincial capital is preparing to welcome student athletes from around the world.
Driven by these events, interest in winter sports has risen across the province. For the 2025-26 season, Jilin launched the 12th National Public Ice and Snow Season.
In Changchun, a 300,000-square-meter urban ice and snow sports park has been built at Siji South River Park. The site includes a 5.7-kilometer illuminated cross-country ski track integrated into public city space, allowing residents to access winter sports close to home. Activities such as snow football, flag football and tug-of-war have also been introduced.
The "Ice and Snow Silk Road" Cup Powder Snow League has staged events in key tourist areas including Jilin City and Changbai Mountain, combining racing with cultural experiences such as rime viewing and hot springs. Attractions such as Changbai Mountain's Cloud Top Palace and the winter fishing tradition at Chagan Lake have also drawn increased attention.
IMPROVED ACCESS, SERVICES ATTRACT OVERSEAS VISITORS
Located in the core ice-and-snow belt of northeast Asia, Jilin has expanded winter sports and tourism cooperation with neighboring countries including South Korea and Russia.
The Jilin International Ice and Snow Industry Expo has been held for nine consecutive years, serving as a platform to attract overseas partners. At the ninth expo in December 2025, Austrian exhibitors discussed resort operations in Chinese, while tour operators from Southeast Asia reviewed Changbai Mountain materials to plan winter travel packages.
"Previously, our skiers were mainly from northeast China. By participating in the Snow Expo, we can now 'bring in' global partners and 'go out' to connect with the world," said the head of a Changchun ski resort. The resort has an agreement with an Austrian company to introduce advanced safety management systems and instructor training models.
International brands have also increased investment. Changbai Mountain Wanda International Resort now hosts 10 global hotel brands, including Sheraton, Westin and Hyatt, offering more than 3,200 rooms designed for ski travelers.
With expanded visa-free policies, new international routes and more frequent flights, the province has focused on improving access. Airports offer ski team reservation services, special check-in counters and ski equipment trolleys, as well as free ski equipment check-in in cooperation with airlines.
Direct shuttle buses now link airports and high-speed rail stations with major resorts, and Changchun Longjia International Airport has opened routes to destinations including Hong Kong, Seoul and Singapore.
For the 2025-26 season, Jilin has expanded ski slope areas, trail length and lift capacity year-on-year. More than 60 new hotels, providing over 5,000 additional rooms, have opened.
The province plans to host more than 800 cultural, tourism, sports and business events this winter. Inbound Tourist Service Centers in major commercial districts and scenic areas will offer tax refunds, currency exchange and multilingual assistance for overseas visitors. ■
