The 11th National Public Ice and Snow Seaso n (Sichuan branch venue), with the theme "Joyful Ice and Snow, Building the Future Together", conflating the 7th Sichuan National Fitness Ice and Snow Season, kicked off on December 27 at the Qiang People Valley Ski Resort in Wenchuan County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture. This joint event marks the start of a five-month ice and snow festival.

Twenty-five Events

Igniting Passion for Ice and Snow Sports

On December 29, an exciting snow volleyball match was held at the Wenchuan Qiang People Valley Ski Resort. Two teams, one from the Aba Prefecture and the other from Chengdu City, faced off in this spirited match. The snow balloon volleyball match is one of the 25 competitions scheduled for the 7th Sichuan National Fitness Ice and Snow Season.

Launched in 2019 by the Sichuan Provincial Bureau of Sport, this initiative is in response to the national call to engage 300 million people in ice and snow activities and spread these sports across southern, western, and eastern China. By introducing this brand event within the National Fitness and Ice and Snow Season framework, the bureau seeks to accelerate the development of a wider campaign of building dreams with ice and snow and further enhance the popularity of these activities. Since its commencement, the event has attracted and inspired over 42 million participants, making it a beloved and highly engaging event among the public. Driven by the National Fitness and Ice and Snow Season series of events, venues across the province have hosted diverse and unique ice and snow events tailored to local characteristics. These activities significantly boost consumption in sports, tourism, and other sectors. The "National Fitness and Ice and Snow Season" has become a pivotal platform and brand event for the popularization, development, and sustained promotion of ice and snow sports in Sichuan.

The 11th National Public Ice and Snow Season (Sichuan branch venue) and the 7th Sichuan National Fitness Ice and Snow Season will span from December 2024 to April 2025. In collaboration with cities (prefectures) in the province like Chengdu, Aba, Ya'an, Dazhou, Guangyuan, Bazhong, Leshan, and Liangshan, the event features a diverse array of competitions blending professional athletics with popular recreational activities. Highlights include the southwest regional mass skiing competition, figure skating championship, speed roller skating contest, skateboard open invitational, family skiing and snowboarding straight-line sprint races, cross-country roller skiing for families, Sichuan-Chongqing ski orienteering, and Sichuan-Chongqing snow balloon volleyball matches. Throughout the event, online activities such as ice and snow knowledge quizzes and fitness challenges will be conducted, creating a dynamic interplay between virtual and physical participation. This approach will enhance the public's engagement, fulfillment, and overall happiness in the realm of ice and snow sports.

A relevant leading official from the Sichuan Provincial Bureau of Sport highlighted the increasing enthusiasm for ski sports in the province in recent years. Increasing numbers of individuals are choosing to ski and snowboard, reveling in the thrill of gliding down the slopes during the winter season. The vibrant growth of ice and snow sports in Sichuan is truly impressive, according to the provincial sports official. Ice and snow sports have become a daily part of life for citizens, evident in both school sports activities and a variety of social competitions. This inclusivity allows both novices and experienced enthusiasts to find joy in these winter activities.

Million-yuan Incentive Packages

Ice and Snow Season Unveiling Array of Discounts and Promotions

"Come and grab your tickets now!" At the launch of the 11th National Public Ice and Snow Season (Sichuan branch venue) and the 7th Sichuan National Fitness Ice and Snow Season, Aba Prefecture, in partnership with several local resorts, namely, the Qiang People Valley Ski Resort, Sichuan Bipenggou Ice and Snow Fairy Tale World, Taiziling Ski Resort in Jiuding Mountain, Zhegu Mountain Ski Resort, Qixiagou Ski Resort, and Mengtun River Valley Ice and Snow Pavilion, offered a total of 12,000 free skiing and snow play experience tickets, valued at 2.4 million yuan. This generous offer invites ice and snow sports enthusiasts from across the nation to enjoy complimentary skiing opportunities in Aba Prefecture. December 28 has now become the "Aba Prefecture Ice and Snow Day".

A range of promotional incentive packages for ice and snow activities are continuously being offered. The Bashan Grand Canyon scenic area is set to host the sixth Bashan Grand Canyon Luopan Yunding Ice and Snow Season from December 2024 to February 2025. The event will feature themed activities, including an enchanted Green Wonderland in Taoxi Valley and a vibrant Yunding Market Hotpot Night. During the event, attendees who purchase the ice and snow season ticket package will receive a 60 percent discount on the Taoxi Valley ticket package, valued at 120 yuan, by presenting a valid ticket purchase receipt. From December 2024 to February 2025, Xiling Snow Mountain scenic area is offering several ice and snow promotions: free admission for new college students, complimentary shuttle bus rides for those booking flights to Chengdu on specific platforms, and a special deal of one yuan for a ticket including cable car transport. Mount Emei's Leidongping Ski Resort is also rolling out similar winter promotions. According to reports, the Mount Emei scenic area will launch off-peak ticket discounts, the "Ice and Snow Hot Spring Joy Season: 80 Million in Consumption Coupons up for Distribution" cultural tourism promotional campaign, and 19 activities across nine themes, including an ice and snow carnival, a Frozen-themed lantern exhibition, hot spring festivals, New Year's races, blessing ceremonies, and culinary and folklore experiences. These initiatives will offer visitors a diverse and enriching ice and snow experience. Moreover, famed as the "most enjoyable year-round constant temperature indoor ski resorts", Chengdu Bonski  and Chongqing Bonski have joined forces. Together, they are issuing 20 million in consumption vouchers for instant discounts on ice and snow activities. The two have also introduced the "88-Day Sichuan-Chongqing Winter Snow Festival", a joint celebration of winter festivities. The vouchers include access to both skiing and snow recreational activities. Users can search for Bonski's mini-program on WeChat, "Rexue Qiji", to get instant discount vouchers, which offer 60 yuan off for snow activities and 80 yuan off for skiing. This promotional move provides an all-encompassing beneficial experience and lowers the threshold for the public to participate in ice and snow sports.

Ice and Snow "Four Entries"

Boosting the Integration of Sports, Culture and Tourism

In November 2024, the General Office of the State Council issued Several Opinions on Stimulating the Ice and Snow Economy through the High-Quality Development of Ice and Snow Sports. This document sets forth strategies for the growth of ice and snow sports in China in the post-Winter Olympics era. It aims to motivate regional and governmental sectors to enhance their provision of ice and snow sports products and services to the public, thereby promoting the nationwide adoption and advancement of these sports. In the 7th Sichuan National Fitness Ice and Snow Season this year, the Sichuan Provincial Bureau of Sport concentrates on meeting the diverse needs of the public for ice and snow sports, carry out more ice and snow sports events available for the general public, develop more user-friendly sports facilities, and strive to establish comprehensive support services for winter sports that everyone can easily access. The goal is to inspire broader participation, particularly among the youth, in the ice and snow sports and to highlight the vibrant and evolving landscape of ice and snow sports in Sichuan as part of the "Winter Tour of Sichuan" campaign.

The 7th Sichuan National Fitness Ice and Snow Season is simultaneously leveraging the leading role of ice and snow sports events to drive the "Four Entries" initiative, which aims to broaden the appeal and consumption of ice and snow sports. Specifically, around 30 ice and snow events, such as carnivals, ice hockey matches, curling competitions for communities and rural areas, and family cross-country roller skiing races, will be hosted within four types of venues: tourist attractions, commercial areas, local neighborhoods, and educational institutions. The effective implementation of the "Four Entries" initiative will further strengthen the foundation for widespread involvement in ice and snow sports, foster an integrated development of sports, culture and tourism sectors, and draw a larger audience into the world of ice and snow sports. The initiative is expected to further stimulate the prosperous growth of sectors related to ice and snow sports, including training, venue management, and cultural and creative products, thus fueling the vitality of the ice and snow economy through the expansion of these sports. This edition of the National Fitness Ice and Snow Season is strategically crafted to reach a wider demographic, secure more meaningful involvement from businesses, leverage an enhanced promotional matrix network, and achieve greater success in boosting consumer engagement. It is anticipated that this year's event will attract and mobilize over 15 million participants in ice and snow-related activities.