Overview of China's Ice and Snow Economy

China's ice and snow economy refers to a comprehensive economic system formed by related industries such as ice and snow sports, ice and snow tourism, and ice and snow equipment manufacturing, based on ice and snow resources. With the successful hosting of the Beijing Winter Olympics, the ice and snow economy in China has ushered in unprecedented development opportunities, becoming an important engine for driving regional economic development and consumption upgrades.

1. Definition and Current Situation

The ice and snow economy covers multiple links from ice and snow venue construction and equipment manufacturing to ice and snow tourism and event operation, forming a complete industrial chain. According to data from the Zhongshang Industry Research Institute, the market size of China's ice and snow industry reached approximately 800 billion yuan in 2022, an increase of 38.22% year-on-year. This growth is mainly due to the significant increase in the number of people participating in ice and snow leisure tourism. During the 2021-2022 ice and snow season, the number of people participating in ice and snow leisure tourism in China reached 344 million, more than double the 170 million during the 2016-2017 ice and snow season.

2. Development History

The development of China's ice and snow economy can be traced back to the 1990s, when it mainly focused on the construction of ski resorts and ice and snow tourism. Entering the 21st century, with the improvement of residents' income levels and the change in consumption concepts, ice and snow sports have gradually become an important way of mass leisure and entertainment. Especially after Beijing won the right to host the 2022 Winter Olympics in 2015, the state has introduced a series of policies to support the development of the ice and snow industry, and the ice and snow economy has entered a period of rapid development.

3. Current Situation Analysis

Currently, China's ice and snow economy presents the following characteristics:

(1) Continuously Expanding Market Size: According to the prediction of the Zhongshang Industry Research Institute, the market size of China's ice and snow industry will reach 890 billion yuan in 2023 and further increase to 970 billion yuan in 2024.

(2) Ice and Snow Tourism as the Core Engine: Revenue from ice and snow tourism occupies an important position in the ice and snow economy. During the 2021-2022 ice and snow season, revenue from ice and snow leisure tourism reached 474 billion yuan, and it is expected to reach 720 billion yuan during the 2024-2025 ice and snow season.

(3) Rapid Development of Ice and Snow Equipment Manufacturing: Driven by both policy guidance and market demand, the ice and snow equipment manufacturing industry has made breakthroughs. In 2022, the annual sales revenue of the ice and snow equipment and materials industry exceeded 20 billion yuan, with an average annual growth rate of over 20%.

(4) Increasing Number of Enterprises: Data from Qichacha shows that by the end of 2022, there were nearly 9,000 ice and snow-related enterprises registered nationwide, with 1,460 newly registered enterprises in 2022, a year-on-year increase of 20.1%.

4. Development Trend

In the future, China's ice and snow economy will continue to maintain a high-speed growth trend. With the improvement of the popularization rate of ice and snow sports and the further expansion of the ice and snow tourism market, the ice and snow economy will achieve breakthroughs in more fields. At the same time, technological innovation and industrial chain optimization in the ice and snow equipment manufacturing industry will also provide new impetus for the development of the ice and snow economy.

Driven by policy support, market demand, and technological innovation, China's ice and snow economy is developing in a more diversified and professional direction. In the future, the ice and snow economy is expected to become an important growth pole for China's economic development.

Panoramic View of the Ice and Snow Economy Industry Chain

1. Upstream Industry Chain Analysis

(1) Ice and Snow Sports Venues

Ice and snow sports venues are the infrastructure of the ice and snow industry chain, mainly including ski resorts and skating rinks. With the popularization of ice and snow sports, the number of ski resorts and skating rinks has increased significantly. According to data from the Zhongshang Industry Research Institute, the number of ice and snow sports venues nationwide reached 2,452 in 2022, an increase of 8.45% year-on-year. Among them, the number of skating rinks was 1,576, accounting for 64.27%, and the number of ski resorts was 876, accounting for 35.73%.

From the development trend, the number of ski resorts and skating rinks will continue to increase. It is expected that the number of ice and snow sports venues in China will reach 2,876 in 2023 and 3,373 in 2024. This growth is mainly due to the government's policy support for ice and snow sports and the increased enthusiasm of consumers for ice and snow sports.

(2) Ice and Snow Equipment and Materials

Ice and snow equipment and materials are an important part of the ice and snow industry chain, mainly including ski suits, ski accessories (such as gloves, helmets, scarves, etc.), and ski tools (such as snowboards, ski poles, etc.). Driven by both policy guidance and market demand, the ice and snow equipment and materials manufacturing industry has made significant progress. According to the "Action Plan for the Development of the Ice and Snow Equipment and Materials Industry (2019-2022)" jointly issued by the General Administration of Sport of China, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and seven other departments, the annual sales revenue of China's ice and snow equipment and materials industry exceeded 20 billion yuan in 2022, with an average annual growth rate of over 20%.

From the brand distribution perspective, high-end ice and snow equipment brands have higher prices and are mainly leased. Decathlon is a representative brand in various ice and snow equipment. In the future, with technological advancements and the diversification of consumer needs, ice and snow equipment and materials will develop in a more professional and personalized direction.

2. Midstream Industry Chain Analysis

(1) Ice and Snow Service Industry

The ice and snow service industry is a core link in the ice and snow industry chain, mainly including ice and snow venue operation, ice and snow tourism services, ice and snow events, and ice and snow education and training. According to data from the Zhongshang Industry Research Institute, the market size of China's ice and snow industry reached approximately 800 billion yuan in 2022, an increase of 38.22% year-on-year. Among them, ice and snow tourism revenue occupies an important position, reaching 474 billion yuan during the 2021-2022 ice and snow season.

The competitive landscape of the ice and snow service industry presents diversified characteristics, with both comprehensive service providers, such as Cabin Ski, and players focusing on specific segments, such as the ice and snow activity vertical service provider Huabai. With the continuous development of the ice and snow industry, competition in the ice and snow service industry will become more intense, and service quality and user experience will become key factors for enterprise competition.

3. Downstream Industry Chain Analysis

(1) Ice and Snow Consumer Market

The ice and snow consumer market is the terminal link of the ice and snow industry chain, mainly including experiential consumers, professional enthusiasts, and professional athletes. According to data from the Zhongshang Industry Research Institute, the number of people participating in ice and snow leisure tourism in China during the 2021-2022 ice and snow season was 344 million, more than double the 170 million during the 2016-2017 ice and snow season.

From the perspective of consumption trends, the ice and snow consumption market will continue to expand. It is expected that during the 2024-2025 ice and snow season, the number of people participating in ice and snow leisure tourism in China is expected to reach 520 million. With the increase in consumer enthusiasm for ice and snow sports, the demand of the ice and snow consumption market will become more diversified, and related services such as ice and snow tourism and ice and snow training will usher in greater development opportunities.

In summary, the upstream venues and equipment, the midstream ice and snow service industry, and the downstream consumer market of the ice and snow economic industry chain together constitute a complete industrial chain. In the future, with the continuous development of the ice and snow industry, each link in the industrial chain will be further improved, and the ice and snow economy will usher in a broader development prospect.

Ice and Snow Economy Sub-Market Analysis

1. Ice and Snow Sports Market

The ice and snow sports market is an important part of the ice and snow economy, mainly including two major sports: skiing and skating. With the successful hosting of the Beijing Winter Olympics, the popularity and participation of ice and snow sports in China have rapidly increased. According to data from the China Business Industry Research Institute, in 2023, the number of ice and snow sports venues nationwide reached 2847, an increase of 16.11% year-on-year. Among them, there were 935 skiing venues and 1912 skating venues, accounting for 32.84% and 67.16% respectively.

In terms of participation, during the 2023-2024 ice and snow season, the number of people participating in various ice and snow sports such as ice skating, skiing, curling, and ice hockey reached 57.35 million, with a total of 109.53 million person-times. Among them, the number of participants in skiing was 35.42 million, with 54.82 million person-times; the number of participants in skating was 21.93 million, with 54.71 million person-times.

From the development trend, the ice and snow sports market will continue to maintain rapid growth. With the popularization of ice and snow sports and the continuous improvement of ice and snow venue facilities, it is expected that the number of ice and snow sports venues nationwide in 2024 will reach 3331, and the number of participants will further increase. In addition, with the diversified development of ice and snow sports projects, such as the promotion of emerging projects like curling and ice hockey, the consumption potential of the ice and snow sports market will be further released.

2. Ice and Snow Tourism Market

The ice and snow tourism market is an important pillar of the ice and snow economy, mainly including ice and snow sightseeing, ice and snow resorts, and ice and snow experiences. According to data from the China Business Industry Research Institute, during the 2023-2024 ice and snow season, the number of people participating in ice and snow leisure tourism in China exceeded 400 million, and the revenue from ice and snow leisure tourism was 550 billion yuan, an increase of 57.59% year-on-year.

From the perspective of tourism types, ice and snow sightseeing and leisure are still the mainstream forms. In the 2023-2024 ice and snow season, 62.1% of tourists chose to participate in various ice and snow activities while appreciating the magnificent ice and snow scenery. In addition, the proportion of ice and snow resorts has increased significantly, reaching 37.9%. More and more tourists tend to vacation in ice and snow scenic areas, and ice and snow tourism destinations pay more attention to the development of resort-type products and services.

The following is a comparison of different types of ice and snow tourism projects:

From the perspective of popular destinations, ice and snow tourism scenic areas in provinces such as Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Xinjiang, and Hebei are favored. With the continuous expansion of the ice and snow tourism market, more emerging ice and snow tourism destinations will emerge in the future, providing more choices for tourists.

3. Ice and Snow Equipment Market

The ice and snow equipment market is an important part of the ice and snow economy, mainly including ski wear, ski accessories, and ski equipment. According to data from the China Business Industry Research Institute, in 2023, the size of China's ice and snow equipment market was 22 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 10.55%. It is expected that the market size will reach 24 billion yuan in 2024.

From the perspective of brand distribution, high-end ice and snow equipment brands are more expensive and mainly focus on rentals. Decathlon is a representative brand in various ice and snow equipment. In addition, with technological advancements and the diversification of consumer needs, ice and snow equipment will develop in a more professional and personalized direction.

The following is a comparison of different types of ice and snow equipment:

From the perspective of technological development, the research and development and innovation of ice and snow equipment will pay more attention to functionality, comfort, and environmental protection. For example, using new materials to improve the warmth and durability of equipment, and using intelligent technology to improve the comfort and safety of equipment.

The ice and snow sports market, tourism market, and equipment market together constitute important sub-markets of the ice and snow economy. With the continuous development of the ice and snow industry, these markets will continue to maintain rapid growth, providing strong support for the prosperity of the ice and snow economy.

Ice and Snow Economy Policies and Support

1. Interpretation of National Policies

In recent years, the state has introduced a series of policies to support the development of the ice and snow economy. These policies cover multiple fields, including ice and snow sports, ice and snow tourism, and ice and snow equipment, aiming to promote the comprehensive upgrading and sustainable development of the ice and snow industry.

(1) Main Policies

Action Plan for the Development of the Ice and Snow Equipment Industry (2019-2022)

Goal: By 2022, the annual sales revenue of the ice and snow equipment industry will exceed 20 billion yuan, with an average annual growth rate of over 20%.

Measures: Support the research and development and innovation of ice and snow equipment, encourage enterprises to strengthen technological transformation and brand building, and improve product quality and competitiveness.

(2) "14th Five-Year Plan" for Sports Development

Goal: Taking the preparation for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics as an opportunity to achieve a leap-forward development of ice and snow sports.

Measures: Strengthen the construction of ice and snow sports venues and facilities, promote the popularization of ice and snow sports, cultivate ice and snow sports talents, and promote the development of the ice and snow industry.

(3) Action Plan for Ice and Snow Tourism Development (2021-2023)

Goal: Promote the formation of a relatively reasonable spatial layout and a relatively balanced industrial structure for ice and snow tourism, contributing to the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and achieving the goal of "involving 300 million people in ice and snow sports."

Measures: Optimize the spatial layout of ice and snow tourism, improve the quality of ice and snow tourism services, and enrich the supply of ice and snow tourism products.

(4) Opinions on Vigorously Developing Ice and Snow Sports Taking the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics as an Opportunity

Goal: Vigorously popularize mass ice and snow sports, widely carry out youth ice and snow sports, and accelerate the development of the ice and snow industry.

Measures: Strengthen the construction of ice and snow sports venues and facilities, promote ice and snow sports into schools and communities, and carry out ice and snow sports training and events.

(5) Guiding Opinions of the General Office of the State Council on Accelerating the Development of the Fitness and Leisure Industry

Goal: Promote the construction of ice and snow sports facilities and comprehensively improve the popularization level and industrial development level of ice and snow sports.

Measures: Support the construction of ice and snow sports venues and facilities, encourage social capital to invest in ice and snow sports projects, and promote the integrated development of ice and snow sports with tourism and culture.

2. Policy Objectives and Measures

The objectives of these policies mainly focus on the following aspects:

(1) Promoting the popularization of snow and ice sports: By constructing snow and ice sports venues and facilities, conducting snow and ice sports training and events, improving the popularization rate and participation rate of snow and ice sports.

(2) Promoting the development of the snow and ice industry: Supporting the research and development and innovation of snow and ice equipment and materials, encouraging enterprises to strengthen technological transformation and brand building, and improving product quality and competitiveness.

(3) Optimizing the layout of snow and ice tourism: Promoting the formation of a reasonable spatial layout and balanced industrial structure for snow and ice tourism, improving the quality of snow and ice tourism services, and enriching the supply of snow and ice tourism products.

(4) Achieving the goal of "involving 300 million people in snow and ice sports": Through policy guidance and measure implementation, stimulating the enthusiasm of the public to participate in snow and ice sports, and achieving the goals of national fitness and a strong sports nation.

3. Local Government Measures

Under the guidance of national policies, local governments have also introduced a series of specific measures to promote the development of the local snow and ice economy. The following are some specific measures taken by local governments in the snow and ice economy, as well as their effectiveness and impact.

4. Effectiveness and Impact

(1) Heilongjiang: By constructing snow and ice tourism resorts and promoting the development of the snow and ice equipment manufacturing industry, Heilongjiang's snow and ice tourism revenue has increased significantly, and the snow and ice equipment manufacturing industry has also made breakthrough progress.

(2) Jilin: By holding international snow and ice festivals and conducting snow and ice sports training and events, Jilin's snow and ice tourism has increased in popularity, and the number of people participating in snow and ice sports has increased.

(3) Liaoning: By constructing snow and ice sports venues and promoting snow and ice sports into schools, the number of snow and ice sports venues in Liaoning has increased, and the popularization rate of snow and ice sports has improved.

(4) Xinjiang: By developing snow and ice tourism and creating snow and ice tourism brands, Xinjiang's snow and ice tourism revenue has increased, and the influence of snow and ice tourism brands has improved.

(5) Hebei: By constructing snow and ice towns and promoting the integration of snow and ice tourism with culture, Hebei's snow and ice tourism revenue has increased, and the integrated development of snow and ice tourism and culture has progressed.

A series of policies and measures introduced by the national and local governments have provided strong support for the development of the snow and ice economy. These policies and measures have not only promoted the popularization of snow and ice sports and the development of the snow and ice industry, but also promoted the prosperity of snow and ice tourism and the progress of the snow and ice equipment manufacturing industry. In the future, with the continued implementation and improvement of policies, the snow and ice economy will usher in a broader development prospect.

Challenges and Opportunities Facing the Snow and Ice Economy

1. Challenge Analysis

Although China's snow and ice economy has made significant progress in recent years, it still faces many challenges.

First, strong seasonality is a major constraint on the snow and ice economy. Because snow and ice sports and tourism mainly rely on winter natural conditions, related industries face operational difficulties during the non-snow season. For example, many ski resorts can only offer limited summer activities in the summer, resulting in a significant drop in revenue.

Second, insufficient infrastructure is also a major problem. Although the number of snow and ice venues has increased in recent years, there is still a large gap between China's number and quality of snow and ice venues compared to developed countries. According to data from the China Business Industry Research Institute, the number of snow and ice sports venues nationwide in 2022 was 2452, while the number of snow and ice sports venues in the United States at the same time exceeded 3000. In addition, there are shortcomings in the maintenance of existing facilities and service quality, affecting consumer experience.

Third, the technological level and innovation capabilities of the snow and ice equipment manufacturing industry still need to be improved. Although the scale of China's snow and ice equipment market continues to expand, high-end equipment still relies on imports, and domestic brands lag behind international brands in terms of technology content and brand influence.

Finally, the shortage of professional personnel is also an important factor restricting the development of the snow and ice economy. The shortage of snow and ice sports coaches, venue operation and management personnel, and snow and ice tourism service personnel has limited the further development of the snow and ice industry.

2. Opportunity Analysis

Despite the many challenges, China's snow and ice economy has ushered in unprecedented opportunities. The following are the main opportunities and their development prospects:

(1) Policy Support

Numerous policies introduced by the national and local governments have provided strong support for the development of the snow and ice economy. For example, policies such as the "Action Plan for the Development of the Snow and Ice Equipment and Materials Industry (2019-2022)" and the "14th Five-Year Plan for Sports Development" have clarified the development goals and support measures for the snow and ice equipment manufacturing industry and snow and ice sports. These policy dividends will continue to be released, promoting the comprehensive upgrading of the snow and ice industry.

(2) Technological Innovation

The research and development of new materials and the application of intelligent technologies have brought new development opportunities to the snow and ice equipment manufacturing industry. For example, the use of new heat-preserving materials and high-strength fiber materials can improve the performance and safety of ski suits and ski equipment. At the same time, the application of intelligent technologies, such as intelligent snowboards and intelligent ski suits, will improve the user experience.

(3) Consumption Upgrade

With the increase in residents' income levels and the change in consumption concepts, the demand for snow and ice sports and tourism is constantly increasing. According to data from the China Business Industry Research Institute, the number of people participating in snow and ice leisure tourism in China during the 2023-2024 snow and ice season exceeded 400 million, and the revenue from snow and ice leisure tourism reached 550 billion yuan. Consumption upgrades will drive further expansion of the snow and ice tourism and equipment markets.

(4) International Cooperation

Introducing advanced foreign technologies and experience and strengthening international exchanges and cooperation will promote the international development of China's snow and ice industry. For example, cooperation with internationally renowned snow and ice equipment brands can improve the technological level and brand influence of domestic brands. At the same time, introducing advanced foreign experience in the operation and management of snow and ice venues can improve the service quality and management level of China's snow and ice venues.

While facing challenges, China's snow and ice economy has also ushered in many opportunities. Through policy support, technological innovation, consumption upgrades, and international cooperation, the snow and ice economy will usher in a broader development prospect. In the future, with the continuous development and improvement of the snow and ice industry, China's snow and ice economy is expected to become an important engine driving economic growth.

Future Development Trends of the Snow and Ice Economy

1. Market Size Forecast

Looking to the future, the market size of China's snow and ice economy will continue to expand. According to data from "Snow and Ice Industry: A Trillion-Yuan Market Scale is Poised to Take Off," it is expected that by 2025, the market size of China's snow and ice industry will exceed 1 trillion yuan. Specifically, the market size in 2024 is expected to reach 970 billion yuan, and it will further increase to 1005.3 billion yuan in 2025. This growth is mainly due to the following aspects:

(1) Policy Support: The national and local governments continue to introduce policies to support the development of the snow and ice industry, providing a strong guarantee for the expansion of the market size.

(2) Consumption Upgrade: With the increase in residents' income levels and the change in consumption concepts, the demand for snow and ice sports and tourism is constantly increasing, driving the expansion of the market size.

(3) Technological Innovation: The research and development of new materials and the application of smart technologies have enhanced the performance and safety of ice and snow equipment, further stimulating market demand.

(4) International Cooperation: The introduction of advanced foreign technologies and experience, and the strengthening of international exchanges and cooperation, have promoted the internationalization of the ice and snow industry and enhanced market competitiveness.

2. Supply Chain Optimization

Optimizing the ice and snow economic supply chain is a key direction for future development. Below are the main directions for supply chain optimization and their specific measures:

Through the above measures, the ice and snow economic supply chain will be further improved, and the synergy among various links will be enhanced, thereby promoting the sustained and healthy development of the ice and snow economy.

3. Cross-industry Integrated Development

The integrated development of the ice and snow economy with other industries is a major trend for the future. Here are some specific examples of cross-industry integration:

(1) Ice & Snow + Culture & Tourism: Various regions are actively combining ice and snow resources with cultural tourism to create unique ice and snow tourism products. For example, Jilin integrates ice and snow tourism with intangible cultural heritage, folk customs, and local delicacies, launching activities such as snow music festivals and ice and snow carnivals, attracting a large number of tourists.

(2) Ice & Snow + Wellness: Altay City in Xinjiang promotes "ice and snow + wellness" development, utilizing local ice and snow resources and natural environment to create ice and snow wellness tourism products, attracting numerous tourists to experience them.

(3) Ice & Snow + Education: Some regions incorporate ice and snow sports into school physical education curricula, organize ice and snow sports training and winter camps to cultivate teenagers' interest and skills in ice and snow sports.

(4) Ice & Snow + Technology: Utilizing Virtual Reality (VR) technology to simulate real skiing scenarios allows people to experience the joy of skiing without leaving their homes. Meanwhile, the application of smart skiing equipment also provides a better sports experience for ice and snow sports enthusiasts.

Through cross-industry integration, the ice and snow economy can not only expand into new market spaces but also enhance the added value and competitiveness of the industry. In the future, with the participation of more industries, the cross-industry integrated development of the ice and snow economy will show a more diversified trend.

China's ice and snow economy will embrace broader development prospects in the future. Through market size forecasting, supply chain optimization, and cross-industry integrated development, the ice and snow economy will continuously innovate and break through, becoming an important force driving economic growth.