Chongqing - Chongqing is stepping up efforts to develop winter ice-and-snow tourism, upgrading high-altitude attractions, expanding product offerings and rolling out consumption incentives to turn seasonal “cold resources” into a new driver of the cultural and tourism economy, officials said at a press conference held on December 26.
Aerial view of Nantian Lake International Ski Resort in Fengdu, Chongqing. (Photo/Fengdu County)
Luo Shaolu, deputy director of Chongqing Municipal Commission of Cultural and Tourism Development, said the city's winter appeal lies in its distinctive contrast — a warm, vibrant urban atmosphere paired with pristine snow-covered mountains.
Describing Chongqing as "a city with a thousand faces," Luo said the municipality benefits from both biodiversity advantages around 30 degrees north latitude and a vertically layered highland climate, creating favorable conditions for winter tourism development.
Expanding Ice-and-Snow Offerings
Building on its natural advantages, Chongqing is expanding beyond traditional skiing to offer a more diversified winter tourism portfolio, including family-oriented snow play, leisure holidays, hot-spring wellness, folk customs, and immersive seasonal experiences.
To enrich winter offerings, the city has upgraded 46 high-mountain scenic areas, including Fairy Mountain in Wulong, Jinfo Mountain in Nanchuan, and Hongchiba in Wuxi, while enhancing 11 tourist resorts, including Nantian Lake in Fengdu, Huangshui in Shizhu, North Hot Spring in Beibei, and Hanfeng Lake in Kaizhou.
Chongqing has also introduced 10 themed winter travel routes, covering snow carnivals, leisure vacations, rural Chinese New Year experiences, hot-spring wellness, folk culture, and red-leaf hiking, encouraging longer stays and multi-stop travel.
Snow-covered scenery at Fairy Mountain in Wulong, Chongqing. (Photo/Wulong District)
To stimulate winter consumption, the municipality is continuing its cultural and tourism promotion campaigns, expanding the "360 Bowls of Chongqing Flavors" food brand, and increasing the number of tourism dining facilities. Chongqing is also strengthening regional cooperation with Sichuan by establishing an ice-and-snow tourism alliance under the Bashu Cultural and Tourism Corridor, positioning the Sichuan–Chongqing region as a joint winter tourism destination.
A range of incentives spanning travel, accommodation, and dining is being rolled out in coordination with platforms such as Ctrip, Amap, and Didi, alongside discounts and bundled offers from scenic areas, commercial districts, restaurants, and hotels.
Meanwhile, Chongqing is shaping its winter tourism image under the brand "Majestic Landscape Dynamic Chongqing," launching themed travel guides and organizing seasonal events, including the ice-and-snow seasons at Fairy Mountain, Jinfo Mountain, and Nantian Lake. Snow games, folk performances and sporting events are being used to boost visibility and attract visitors.
Safety remains a key priority. Authorities have strengthened prevention and response measures for low temperatures, snow and icy conditions, enhanced cross-department coordination, and improved real-time monitoring and travel advisories to ensure safe and orderly travel throughout the winter season.
Local Ice-and-Snow Highlights
Across Chongqing's districts and counties, winter tourism offerings are being upgraded with new events, specialized facilities and targeted incentives.
Wulong District announced that the 16th Fairy Mountain Ice and Snow Season will launch in 2025, featuring new cross-disciplinary activities, immersive snow experiences and social-media-friendly scenic spots. A series of bundled “PASS” tickets covering snow play and sightseeing will be offered, with discounts as low as 22 percent of original prices, alongside regional concessions for visitors from selected cities in Sichuan and nationwide consumption subsidies through digital platforms.
In Fengdu County, Nantian Lake has completed a comprehensive upgrade, now offering two advanced ski runs — the only ones in Chongqing — built to high professional standards. Beginner facilities have been expanded, night skiing has been enhanced, and a "double-park" model has been introduced to combine skiing and snow play. High-altitude hot springs have also been added to pair winter sports with relaxation.
Nanchuan District said the 27th Jinfo Mountain Ice and Snow Season will open on December 30, highlighted by a newly launched summit snow-viewing route at 2,238 meters above sea level. Additional attractions include expanded icefall landscapes, themed night lighting, youth skiing competitions and festive activities during the New Year and Spring Festival holidays.
In Beibei District, winter tourism centers on hot springs, with three curated routes that combine mountain hiking, cultural exploration, and family-friendly experiences. Activities include a New Year mountain-climbing event, museum visits, overnight educational programs and hot-spring wellness retreats.
Snow-covered scenery at Hongchiba in Wuxi, Chongqing. (Photo/Wuxi County)
Wuxi County announced the opening of Hongchiba Ski Resort on December 26, with winter shuttle services, continuous snow-clearing operations, and 24-hour emergency rescue. Ticket discounts will run through April 1, 2026, with additional promotions for women, university students and self-driving visitors, alongside heated accommodations and traditional high-altitude winter cuisine.
Together, these initiatives across districts and counties form a diverse winter tourism matrix, reinforcing Chongqing's goal of transforming seasonal snow and ice into a vibrant, sustainable tourism economy.