Tourists check in at a homestay in Qingshan village near Yabuli Ski Resort. SUN XIAOYU/XINHUA

Snow economy

In November, the State Council, China's Cabinet, issued guidelines to boost the ice and snow economy, emphasizing high-quality winter sports development. Yabuli was identified as a key hub for a globally competitive ice and snow economy.

Ahead of the 9th Asian Winter Games, Yabuli underwent significant upgrades, improving six ski trails and its snow-making systems to meet international standards. Three new beginner trails were added to the base, along with a terrain park.

To further enhance the guest experience, Yabuli launched the "three mountain interconnection project", allowing skiers to access all three major resorts with a single pass.

The interconnected network forms a snow trail spanning 5 kilometers, with a vertical drop of 912 meters, offering skiers a seamless adventure on the slopes.

Yabuli has also invested heavily in infrastructure, including upgrades to snow equipment facilities and accommodations. The resort has added 24 snow machines, and two snow groomers, and upgraded 1,500 ski sets and 1,000 ski outfits.

With 25 hotels and three villas now offering over 2,400 rooms and over 5,000 beds, Yabuli's capacity has grown significantly. The resort has also introduced direct train service from Harbin and expanded shuttle bus access.

Beyond skiing, Yabuli is diversifying its attractions with hot spring resorts, a water park, and China's northernmost panda exhibit, positioning itself as a year-round destination — even in the summer months.

Yang Xiaodong, director of cultural tourism for the Yabuli management committee, said the Asian Winter Games significantly raised Yabuli's profile.

The event brought an influx of visitors, particularly from the Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta and overseas, Yang said.

During the Spring Festival holiday, Yabuli welcomed 173,900 visitors, a 41.9 percent increase from the previous year. After the holiday, daily visits averaged 20,000, marking a 20 percent year-on-year growth.