STORY: Turning winter into wealth: How ice-and-snow resources fuel China's economy nationwide
SHOOTING TIME: Recent footage
DATELINE: Feb. 17, 2025
LENGTH: 00:02:19
LOCATION: Beijing 
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the 9th Asian Winter Games
2. various of the street views in Harbin
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): SUN ZEMIN, Deputy director of the marketing department at Harbin Ice-Snow World Park Co., Ltd.
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ROBYN LAPTHORNE, Australian Tourist
5. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): CRAIG LAPTHORNE, Australian Tourist
6. various of ice-and-snow activities in Tianjin
7. SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): Tourist
8. various of a ski resort in SW. China's Guizhou
9. SOUNDBITE 5 (Chinese): XUE LUJIE, Tourist
10. various of a ski resort in SW. China's Yunnan
11. SOUNDBITE 6 (Chinese): KONG, Tourist

STORYLINE:

The recently concluded 9th Asian Winter Games has further fueled public enthusiasm for winter sports and tourism in China.

Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province is harnessing this excitement by transforming ice-and-snow resources into economic opportunities.

Harbin Ice-Snow World, located in the capital of Heilongjiang Province, is the world's largest ice-and-snow theme park. It has received over 3 million visits as of Feb. 11. 

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): SUN ZEMIN, Deputy director of the marketing department at Harbin Ice-Snow World Park Co., Ltd.
"Based on our statistics this year, the number of foreign visitors to the Ice and Snow World has reached an all-time high. It's a success closely tied to the Asian Winter Games."

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ROBYN LAPTHORNE, Australian Tourist 
"We traveled all the way from Australia to come here to experience this amazing event."

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): CRAIG LAPTHORNE, Australian Tourist
"It's amazing that they can build this out of ice and also these activities for the children as well. And it's something for everybody. (Our) first time ever to see this, and we'll never forget it. It is absolutely beautiful."

Not limited to Harbin, the ice and snow tourism fervor is now palpable nationwide.

Tianjin, N China 

SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): Tourist
"This place is very big and there are many ice-and-snow activities. I brought my child this time, and he seems to really enjoy it. I think these activities can help build his courage and perseverance."

A ski resort in SW. China's Guizhou 

SOUNDBITE 5 (Chinese): XUE LUJIE, Tourist
"Previously, I had not thought that ice and snow sports could be developed in Guizhou. Out of curiosity, I decided to experience it and felt quite happy. I am from Anshun City of Guizhou Province and this is my first time skiing here."

A ski resort in SW. China's Yunnan 

SOUNDBITE 6 (Chinese): KONG, Tourist
"We are from Jiangsu Province. My first visit was in February of last year. This year, I brought my son. It's his first time here. I want him to experience the thrill of skiing."

The 2024-2025 winter season is expected to see some 520 million trips, generating over 630 billion yuan in tourism revenue, according to a report released by the China Tourism Academy.

China aims to boost its ice-and-snow economy targeting an economic scale of 1.2 trillion yuan (about 167.34 billion U.S. dollars) by 2027 and 1.5 trillion yuan by 2030, according to guidelines released by the State Council last year.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beijing.
(XHTV)