The remote city of Arxan in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region is reaping the benefits of a surge in winter tourism, standing out as an alternative to other popular destinations, as the country is experiencing another boom in ice and snow themed travel.
The name of the city, Haren Arxan, means "hot holy water" in the Mongolian language. Located on China's border with Mongolia, Arxan boasts a stretch of the Khalkha River that runs non-freezing due to the heat from an active volcanic cluster in the region, which also feeds the city's famous hot springs.
Discerning tourists have taken on a journey to this more secluded destination, where stunning winter scenery and a variety of ice and snow events are offered along with the relaxing mineral-rich thermal baths.
"Because my son has seen so many snow videos on his phone, he asked me, 'Can we go play in the snow?' To be honest, some of these places are either too crowded or overpriced. Arxan offers more bang for the buck," said Li Chunyan, a tourist from east China's Zhejiang Province.
Arxan's abundant natural resources once made it a logging hub. But since China shifted to forest preservation in the 1990s, the town's focus turned to tourism.
Local government official Sun Hailong has witnessed Arxan's transformation over the past 25 years. From desolate beginnings, the town saw roads paved and an airport built.
Last year, Arxan recorded more than 5 million tourist visits, but most of them were received during the summer. The government has now set a goal of attracting more winter tourists.
Significant investments are being made to boost tourism in Arxan. Last year, the equivalent of over 2 million U.S. dollars of government funding was spent on tourism projects, a staggering amount given the city's GDP amounts to just over 3 million dollars. This extraordinary commitment shows the local government's confidence in tourism as a cornerstone of its future.
"We welcome everyone around the world to come and see this winter wonderland," Sun said in an invitation to the audience via China Global Television Network (CGTN).
Exploring natural wonders of Arxan in north China's Inner Mongolia
