Harbin extravaganza boosts China's ice-and-snow economy

"Compared to Europe, the snow at skiing resorts in Jilin is less affected by weather, making it more convenient and stable for short skiing trips," he said.

The Northeast Chinese provinces of Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang, known for being China's oldest industrial base, were once called the "rust belt," due to the significant difficulties these provinces encountered in terms of economic transformation and development.

Partially thanks to the contribution of its burgeoning ice-and-snow tourism industry, the economic growth of Liaoning province in the first three quarters of 2023 surpassed the national average for the first time in ten years. Jilin Province, meanwhile, recorded GDP growth of 5.8 percent in the first three quarters of 2023, 0.6 percentage points above the national average.

Although the economic growth of Heilongjiang province still fell below the national average in the first three quarters of 2023, the growth momentum of its tertiary industry was evident, jumping by 4.7 percent year on year, well above the growth rates of its first and secondary industries.

The ice-and-snow economy has been listed among key sectors to further promote a new breakthrough in the full revitalization of Northeast China in the new era.