Protecting Lucid Waters and Lush Mountains While Utilizing the Ice and Snow Resources

 

As the 28th Changchun Ice and Snow Festival kicks off, Changchun New World of Ice and Snow in Jilin Province has opened its doors to visitors. In celebration of the Spring Festival, more than 40 ice and snow sculptures in the park bring to life the classic tale of The Legend of the White Snake. Not far away, against the backdrop of a fireworks display, a group of young performers takes to the stage, joyfully doing the yangko dance.

 

Ice and snow are also invaluable assets. In recent years, Changchun has continuously strengthened the protection of its ice and snow ecological resources, explored new models for developing the ice and snow economy, and promoted green and low-carbon development. During the 2023-2024 snow season, the city received 59.01 million tourists and generated tourism revenue of RMB 115.6 billion, marking year-on-year increases of 73.97% and 133.24%, respectively.

 

Protection—

 

"A Good Environment Is the Foundation for Developing Ice and Snow Tourism"

 

Snow-covered cabins adorned with red lanterns stand in contrast to the banks of the frozen Yitong River, where crystalline icicles form on the branches, swaying gently in the wind. It is the weekend, and the Nanxili Cultural Tourism Town in the Nanxi Wetland Park, Nanguan District, Changchun, Jilin, is bustling with visitors. "This is my first time in Northeast China. The town seamlessly blends the ice and snow landscape with folk customs, making it truly unique," said Sun Jia'ao, a tourist from Shandong. Wearing a hat and gloves, with a string of sugar-coated haws in hand, she and her daughter were building a small snowman. "It's cold, but the atmosphere here is warm and lively," said Hua Xinyu, head of Nanxi Wetland Park.

 

The town's development is part of Changchun's broader efforts to develop urban ice and snow tourism by utilizing the resources of the Yitong River. The Yitong River runs through Changchun from north to south, passing through many parks. The place was once plagued by environmental degradation due to vegetation damage, climate change, shoreline development, and other factors.

 

In recent years, the CPC Changchun Municipal Committee and Municipal Government have launched a comprehensive campaign to restore the Yitong River, implementing simultaneous ecological projects across its water bodies, including Nanxi Wetland. Efforts include clearing river waste, removing surface debris, and constructing diversion culverts. After more than a year of work, the once murky and odorous ponds of Nanxi Wetland Park have been transformed into clean and expansive water bodies. Following the water body treatment efforts, ecological buffer zones were rehabilitated, gradually restoring the river's self-purification capability.

 

A good ecological environment brings promising prospects. Changchun enjoys abundant ice and snow resources, with many ski resorts such as Lianhuashan and Jingyuetan. "With the Yitong River (including Nanxi Wetland) now clear and surrounded by lush greenery, even the urban areas are well-suited for ice and snow tourism," said Hua Xinyu. In collaboration with Construction Investment Group, Nanguan District has integrated twelve scenic spots along the Yitong River to launch a dozen kinds of ice and snow tourism products across five sectors, including Frozen Rose and Snow Country Train, in Nanxi Wetland Park, Industrial Track Park, and other places.

 

The frozen Yitong River has become a natural ice and snow playground. Walking along the riverbanks with Hua Xinyu, reporters stopped frequently to take in the sights. "We have built the 'Black Myth Wukong' theme park, featuring a ski park, winter camping area, and more. A good environment is the foundation for developing ice and snow tourism," said Hua Xinyu.

 

Protecting lucid waters and lush mountains requires strengthened protection of ice and snow ecological resources. Dedicated to clean heating and watershed management, Changchun has actively engaged in the battle against pollution prevention and control, while facilitating the construction of a "zero-waste city" by accelerating its green and low-carbon transition. In 2023, the city fully met the national Grade II air quality standard, with 314 days of good air quality. Additionally, all 16 nationally monitored surface water sections met the assessment targets, with 56.3% classified as good water bodies.

 

"We strive to protect the ecological environment of the Yitong River under the principles of respecting and adapting to nature," said Wang Zilian, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Changchun Municipal Committee and Mayor of Changchun. "We will further optimize the industry layout, enhance interactive experiences, and expand public recreational facilities to better satisfy the people's needs and achieve a balance of ecological, social, and economic benefits."

 

Transformation—

 

"Ecotourism and the Ice and Snow Economy Are a 'Golden Key'"

 

The rolling mountains stretch endlessly, covered in dense forests. A vast expanse of snow blankets the landscape, with frost-laden trees shimmering like crystal.

 

"Fresh air rushes toward me when I swoosh down the slopes, surrounded by a world blanketed in white. I've been skiing for three hours, yet I still can't get enough," said Yang Na, a tourist from Jiangxi. She was flushed with excitement as she removed her helmet in the ski equipment hall of Jingyuetan Ski Resort in Changchun.

 

Nearby, Guo Xiaodong, the resort manager, observed the bustling crowds and told reporters, "The ski season has just begun, yet we're already welcoming more than 1,000 visitors daily. Now that it's peak winter vacation season, handling 2,000 visitors a day is no problem."

 

Jingyuetan Ski Resort, located in the Jingyuetan Scenic Area in Changchun, boasts a forest coverage rate of 96%. It serves as the city's "green lung" and a crucial ecological barrier.

 

How can the transition channel between lucid waters and lush mountains, ice and snow resources, and invaluable assets be further expanded? "Ecotourism and the ice and snow economy are the 'golden key'," said Guo Xiaodong. Taking advantage of the exceptional natural ice and snow resources in Northeast China, the resort utilizes the undulating terrain to form a natural ski area. The ice and snow economy, encompassing related sports and tourism, is thriving, transforming "cold resources" into a "hot industry". "This year, we've upgraded the ski equipment hall, conveyor belts, and other infrastructure, and added over 300 new youth-oriented skis and snowboards to ensure a more comfortable and enjoyable experience for visitors," Guo added.

 

Development must be built on the foundation of protection. Zou Minghua, General Manager of Changchun Jingyuetan Tourism Development Group Co., Ltd., provided an example. "One particular slope in the scenic area is extremely popular among visitors. To avoid damaging the surrounding trees while meeting visitor demands, we have innovatively designed a multi-level ski slope with a vertical extension layout." As a result, forest coverage in the scenic area has continued to expand.

 

"Strengthening ecological protection is the foundation for the long-term development of the ice and snow industry, which will not only drive the deep expansion of ice and snow tourism but also ensure that more people can secure their livelihoods through the ice and snow economy. We will remain committed to ecological priorities and green development, enhance the variety of ice and snow tourism offerings, improve service quality, and further establish Jingyuetan as a premier ice and snow tourism brand."

 

Development—

 

"Enhancing Coordination to Maximize the Comprehensive Effect of the Ice and Snow Economy"

 

As dusk settled and the train pulled into the station, Mr. Li and his family stepped off the high-speed rail. However, instead of heading straight to their hotel, they had other plans. "We've already booked tickets for Changchun New World of Ice and Snow tonight. We'll head there with our luggage first, have fun, and check in later to save time!"

 

A short walk from the station brought them to the waiting area at the Changchun Station for Ice and Snow Tourism Bus Line 1. Less than an hour later, they arrived at Changchun New World of Ice and Snow. "I checked online beforehand—there's a luggage storage service in the tourist center," said Mr. Li with satisfaction.

 

Beautiful scenery must be complemented by excellent services. Since most ice and snow attractions are located some distance from key transport hubs like Changchun Station and Longjia Airport, the Changchun Municipal Transportation Bureau has launched dedicated city bus routes to major ski resorts such as Jingyuetan and Lianhuashan, operating 924 trips daily. Meanwhile, 20 bus routes covering city attractions and commercial districts have been optimized to ensure their final departures align with scenic area closing times.

 

Jin Yong, Deputy Director of the Changchun Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism, explained that this snow season, the city developed an integrated ice and snow tourism framework featuring "one core, two new scenes, four resorts, ten parks, and multiple attractions". Centered around the 28th Changchun Ice and Snow Festival, it launched over 300 themed activities across seven sectors, including ice and snow-related festivals and events, public cultural activities, sports, study tours, performances, trade, and consumer promotions.

 

At Northeast Normal University, researchers in the Jilin Ice and Snow Sports Key Laboratory are using modern technology to create customized ski insoles by modeling athletes' foot structures, such as size, shape, and arch. In recent years, the lab has developed youth speed skis, functional custom-fit ski insoles, and other products.

 

"The ice and snow equipment industry is a vital component of the ice and snow economy. Its growth and prosperity are crucial for expanding related sports participation and enhancing the core competitiveness of the ice and snow economy," said Tang Liang, Deputy Director of the Jilin Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology.

 

Vigorously developing the ice and snow equipment industry is not only a strategic move to unlock the economic value of ice and snow resources but also a key initiative in the green transformation of Northeast China's old industrial base.

 

In recent years, Changchun has made remarkable progress in ice and snow equipment manufacturing. The Hongqi bobsled marked a breakthrough in domestically produced sleds, while products like Jilin's ski wax trucks and Pennington skates were showcased at the Beijing Winter Olympics. Looking ahead, Changchun plans to leverage its technological research advantages and collaborate with cities like Jilin, Liaoyuan, and Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture to establish an ice and snow equipment industrial park. This initiative will accelerate the development of ice and snow facilities and personal ice and snow gear, advance auxiliary training systems for winter sports, and enhance overall service capabilities.

 

"We will continue to push forward with internationalization, large-scale development, branding, and market expansion. The development of ice and snow products in various scenic areas should not only highlight differentiation and unique characteristics to meet the diverse needs of tourists but also emphasize coordination and synergy to maximize the comprehensive effect of the ice and snow economy," said Zhang Enhui, Secretary of the CPC Changchun Municipal Committee.