Hegang City in China's Heilongjiang Province has been capitalizing the momentum of the upcoming 9th Asian Winter Games to drive growth in the ice and snow industry by holding unique winter sports.
The official competition schedule of the 9th Asian Winter Games was released by the event's organizing committee on Saturday, which will be held from February 7 to 14 in Harbin, the "Ice City" in China.
This event is not just a sporting spectacle, but also a catalyst for economic growth in the region.
Hegang is a city known for its popularity in alpine skiing. Since the 1990s, alpine skiing has been an advantage of Hegang's winter sports activities. The city has nurtured eight athletes who represented China in Winter Olympics, with two of them claiming a total of 11 world championships.
Over the past month, Hegang's ski resorts have seen a significant influx of visitors, with over 3,000 skiing enthusiasts flocking to the slopes. This surge has led to a substantial increase in revenue from tourism-related activities, including ice and snow sightseeings, homestays, and local restaurants, amounting to over 6.26 million yuan (about 855,121 U.S. dollars).
The city is currently hosting a public alpine skiing competition, providing a platform for more skiing lovers to interact and improve their skills.
Participants from various northeastern cities are eager to engage in friendly competition and share their passion for skiing.
"I'm from Yichun. Skiers here in Hegang are exceptionally good in general. Through the competition, we have communications and exchanges of skills. I also enjoy this competition very much," said Liu Fengxuan, a skiing enthusiast from nearby Yichun City in Heilongjiang.
Local authorities are also leveraging the opportunity to promote a range of cultural and tourism activities.
"Taking the advantage of the Asian Winter Games, Hegang has organized over 80 cultural and sports events themed 'Enjoying Ice and Snow'. By integrating sports and tourism, Hegang aims to keep driving growth in the ice and snow industry," said Gu Xiaolong, deputy director of Hegang Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism.
Heilongjiang's Hegang capitalizes momentum of Asian Winter Games to drive growth in ice, snow industry
