Chongqing - On December 30, Chongqing launched a citywide winter tourism campaign in Nanchuan District, marking the start of the 27th Jinfo Mountain Ice-and-Snow Season and unveiling a packed calendar of winter experiences across the municipality.

The Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development said it is working with districts and counties to deliver more than 1,000 culture-and-tourism events through winter and into the Spring Festival period, with a focus on hands-on, immersive activities that blend nature, wellness, and local traditions.

Snow play and hot springs

For many travelers, Chongqing's signature cold-season appeal is the ability to pair mountain snow with hot-spring relaxation—often in the same day.

On the snow front, Wulong's Fairy Mountain is rolling out its annual ice-and-snow season, featuring themed activities such as a winter parade and family-friendly events, positioning the area as a popular spot for parents traveling with children. In Nanchuan, Jinfo Mountain is upgrading its offerings and debuting a new snow-viewing route to Jinfo Summit, where visitors can take in a high-altitude winter trio—snow-covered peaks, a sea of clouds, and rime ice—at 2,238 meters above sea level.

The Jinfo Mountain. (Photo: The event organizer)

Other destinations, including Nantian Lake in Fengdu County, Hongchiba in Wuxi County, and Mowei Mountain in Pengshui, are also shifting into "snow mode," with programs such as snowfield DIY activities, ski-and-camp experiences, and bonfire nights to create a whole winter atmosphere.

Meanwhile, hot-spring tourism is getting its own seasonal push. Beibei District is promoting routes that combine soaking with hiking, museum visits, and winter blossom viewing, built around well-known sites such as Bolian Hot Springs and Tongjing Hot Springs. 

Tongjing is also planning a New Year "first soak" promotion, with gift packs for participants. Banan District is packaging trekking routes around its hot-spring resources and intends to issue holiday consumption vouchers during the New Year and Spring Festival periods. In Nanchuan, Tianxing Hot Springs offers entry for 68 yuan (about $9.7), giving visitors an easy way to pair a snowy outing with a warm soak.

Tongjing is also planning a New Year "first soak" promotion, with gift packs for participants. (Photo: The event organizer)

Folk customs and museum shows 

Beyond outdoor travel, multiple districts and counties are leaning into winter folk culture and Spring Festival traditions, rolling out programs tied to intangible cultural heritage—from craft demonstrations and food fairs to school-based activities and livestream events.

The Chongqing Ba People Museum plans a December 31 countdown event inviting young participants to create modern-themed New Year prints, with selected works set to appear in a Spring Festival digital interactive display. Elsewhere, long-running local celebrations will return, including Jiangjin's Zhongshan Ancient Town "thousand-meter banquet" and Kaizhou's traditional "Shangjiu" hill-climbing activities.

Cultural institutions are also adding to the winter draw. The Chongqing China Three Gorges Museum is staging themed exhibitions, including a zodiac showcase featuring horse-related artifacts, while the Chongqing Art Museum is presenting exhibitions on Yangtze River culture. A number of "red tourism" exhibitions—focused on modern history and revolutionary heritage—are also running at memorial halls across the city.

Shows, discounts, and bundled deals through late February

Chongqing's performance venues are scheduling a steady stream of productions over the holiday season, from children's theatre and traditional opera to pop and variety shows. A series of major touring performances is expected to arrive from January 2026, while long-running resident productions such as "Chongqing·1949" continue to serve as marquee visitor experiences.

The Chongqing·1949. (Photo: The event organizer)

To spur winter travel, a regional promotion linking five destinations across the Chengdu–Chongqing area is offering 50% off admission at participating 4A and 5A scenic areas through February 28, 2026. The discount applies to eligible visitors from Chongqing, Chengdu, Deyang, Meishan, and Ziyang, with qualification based on having used (redeemed) a ticket at a participating attraction in any of the five locations within the previous seven days.

Scenic areas are also offering bundled packages that cover "eat, stay, and play" in one purchase. Jinfo Mountain is offering combinations that include entry, accommodatio,n and skiing or hot-spring options, including a two-person self-drive package from 468 yuan. Other districts have introduced multi-attraction passes and value tickets that bundle admissions with rides and entertainment perks.

Tourism authorities said Chongqing has also released 10 winter travel routes, spanning themes such as hot springs and skiing, heritage and folk culture, and countryside leisure—aimed at families, couples, and friend groups looking for easy, ready-made itineraries.