Today, out of more than 100 households, 36 operate homestays, offering accommodations for 500 overnight guests and meals for 1,300 people.

"Erhe village, known as Jilin's 'Snow Village,' is one of the province's top destinations and was named a 'Beautiful Leisure Village of China' by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs in 2018," said Lu Caishu, the village secretary. "In 2019, it was recognized as one of the 'National Key Villages for Rural Tourism' and a 'Top 100 Beautiful Rural Villages in China.'"

China's push to develop winter tourism aligns with a national vision first articulated by President Xi Jinping when he was Party secretary of Zhejiang province.

In 2005, Xi stated that "green mountains and clear waters are as valuable as mountains of gold and silver." Eleven years later, he expanded the concept, saying, "Ice and snow are also as valuable as mountains of gold and silver."