China's ice and snow tourism is hitting its peak season as the chilly months arrive, with local authorities unveiling a slew of new attractions and activities to draw in visitors from far and wide.
In northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, many tourists have arrived at the Kunlun Mountains scenic area to enjoy the magnificent scenery of the mountains.
"The chain of snow capped mountains is breathtaking and awe inspiring. I'm a photography enthusiast, and I found that you can easily create a master piece here with just a casual snap," said Zhu Yirui, a tourist from Yunnan.
Recently, the ice-and-snow tourism train from Longjing City in Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture of northeast China's Jilin Province, to the Changbai Mountain has been launched.
This train, consisting of five carriages with each under unique theme, offers passengers magnificent views of the snowy forests outside and captivating performances of Korean folk songs and dances inside the train.
Meanwhile, in central China's Hubei Province, an ice-snow themed event was staged on Saturday in Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture. A variety of exciting snow and ice activities will be held during the event, which will last until February next year.
In southwest China's Sichuan Province, the Dagu glacier scenic spot in Heishui County of Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture has seen a peak in tourist visits.
Standing on the summit of an ancient glacier 4,860 meters above sea level, visitors can feel its grandeur as well as the purity of the ice and snow world. They can also stay in a Tibetan village, enjoy Tibetan hotpot, take part in bonfire parties, and experience the local folk culture.
Ice-snow tourism booms across China with diverse attractions
The upcoming New Year has injected a stimulus to China's consumer market, with stores beefing up stocks of farm produce and other supplies.
According to data from the Ministry of Commerce, ahead of the New Year, the stock levels of essential goods such as grains, edible oil, eggs, and pork have slightly increased in the country's 200 major agricultural wholesale markets compared with early December. The supply of daily necessities has remained sufficient and the prices have been generally stable.
In Beijing, grocery stores are experiencing a surge in customer traffic, with many major supermarkets seeing daily foot traffic exceeding 10,000 people.
Hubei Province in central China has better coordinated production and sales, increasing the efficiency of daily goods circulation by 10 percent compared with usual.
In south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and other regions, large agricultural wholesale markets and key supermarkets have seen a 20 percent increase in the supply of essential items such as vegetables, fruits, eggs, and dairy products.
The holiday atmosphere also extends to commercial districts and tourist attractions. From Nanjing City's lantern-decorated malls and Changsha City's renovated cultural streets, to newly opened countryside inns in snow-covered Mohe City, business is booming ahead of the New Year.
Many stores are also rolling out end-of-the-year special sales. In northwest China's Xi'an City, several department stores have offered promotion deals combined with subsidies for home appliances move-up purchases.
"With government subsidies, the discounts are particularly good. I'm planning to buy a new washing machine before the New Year so I can use it during the holidays," said a consumer in Xi'an.
Data from the State Information Center shows that in December, the offline consumer activity index has seen a 5.0 percent year-on-year increase. The service consumption activity index has risen by 10.6 percent, with the leisure and entertainment sector growing by 32.3 percent, the catering industry up by 9.6 percent, and tourism by 9.0 percent, respectively.
China sees bustling consumption as New Year approaches
