Business · Companies · 2 hrs ago
Chinese ski resorts open early as demand for snow trips rises
Chinese ski resorts are opening the 2026–27 season earlier as colder weather and rising interest bring visitors onto the slopes.
Resorts in Xinjiang and Hebei opened in October, with others in provinces including Jilin and Heilongjiang opening or planning to open in November.
Search interest for skiing on Meituan rose 125% year on year through October 28, while bookings for stays near ski resorts for November through March rose 217%.
More than 70% of people booking ice-and-snow trips through Tuniu were from southern China, bringing spending on travel, lodging, meals and equipment rentals.
Resorts are upgrading lifts, trails and winter attractions to handle visitors and encourage longer stays.
Local governments are also offering vouchers and discounts, including a 2 million yuan voucher package in Chongli, Hebei.
Earlier openings and wider offers aim to turn interest into lasting tourism spending during the winter season.
Chinese ski resorts are opening the 2026–2027 season earlier as demand for snow trips rises.
China News Service reported that Koktokay International Ski Resort in Xinjiang opened on October 20, followed by Wanlong Ski Resort in Hebei.
Searches for skiing on Meituan rose 125% year on year from October through October 28.
Bookings for accommodation near ski resorts for stays from November through March were up 217% year on year through October 28.
Resorts are making artificial snow and upgrading facilities, while southern visitors account for more than 70% of ice-and-snow travel orders on Tuniu.
- Who
- Ski resorts across China, and travelers seeking snow trips.
- What
- Resorts are opening the 2026–2027 ski season early as demand for snow travel rises.
- When
- The season began opening in late October 2026; the article was published on November 6, 2026.
- Where
- Ski resorts in China, including locations in Xinjiang, Hebei, Jilin and Heilongjiang.
- Why
- Resorts are seeking to attract more visitors during valuable early-season weather windows as consumer demand rises.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Koktokay International Ski Resort in Xinjiang opened, followed by Wanlong Ski Resort in Hebei.
Meituan’s reported figures for ski searches and nearby accommodation bookings covered data through this date.
Yabuli Sunshine Ski Resort opened its summit beginner slope for trial skiing.
The article was published; Chongli Genting Ski Resort and Miaoxiang Mountain Ski Resort were scheduled to open.
- Ski search growth
- 125% year on year on Meituan from October through October 28
- Nearby accommodation bookings
- 217% year-on-year increase for stays from November through March, through October 28
- Southern travelers
- More than 70% of ice-and-snow travel users on Tuniu
- Wanlong Ski Resort
- 32 ski runs; 9 snow groomers
- Beidahu Ski Resort
- 81 ski runs and 15 operating lifts
- Chongli consumer vouchers
- 2 million yuan in vouchers and 100,000 restaurant discount coupons scheduled for the 2026–2027 season
1 source
What people are saying
The temperature window at the start of the snow season is very valuable; the earlier a resort opens, the more first-ski traffic it can capture over the whole season.
Upgrading supply at resorts is key to helping the ice-and-snow economy move from ‘traffic’ to ‘retention’.
A high share of southern visitors means a longer consumption chain and a wider consumption radius.