Jingyue zone's efforts

The Chinese government has introduced a variety of measures to encourage 300 million people to take part in ice and snow sports following the country's successful bid for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games. Changchun Jingyue High-tech Industrial Development Zone has been a major force in promoting the action in Changchun over the last few years.

For the 2021 snow season, which runs through February 2021, the zone has arranged an array of activities for people to experience the charm of snow sports. Seven competitions and 13 cultural and tourism programs have been scheduled, according to local authorities.

"We are supporting snow and ice-related sports, technology, cultural and entertainment products as well as tourism products to become known in China's ice and snow industry," said Hong Bingbing, director of the bureau of culture, tourism and sports in Changchun Jingyue High-tech Industrial Development Zone.

Hong said innovation is a key characteristic of the 2021 snow season events. An inaugural unmanned driving competition will be held in the zone on Jan 12.

"We will combine ice and snow with automobiles, another key industry in Changchun, to attract tourists," Hong said.

The first Jingyue Beautiful Countryside Snow Art Festival, to be held from January to February, will add to the zone's innovative offerings. Tug-of-wars, football and ice fishing have also been organized for visitors to enjoy this winter.

This year, Jingyue Snow World in the Changchun Jingyuetan National Forest Park, a top-rated tourist attraction in China, will amaze visitors with stunning snow sculptures, natural views and the Vasaloppet Museum, local officials said.

Xi Wenyu, an official from the publicity department of Jingyue High-tech Industrial Development Zone, said Jingyue Snow World boasts three sections: the main area for snow sculptures, the Vasaloppet Museum and a 6-km-long road surrounding the Jingyuetan Pool.

The main area features five large snow sculptures, a 100-meter-long ice-made slide and a 70-meter-long curved slide.

An 80-meter-long snow sculpture called Ice and Snow in Changchun, constructed with 45,000 cubic meters of snow, has been popular with visitors. Apart from displaying the beauty of the local snow season, the sculpture also demonstrates some of the economic and technological achievements of Changchun.

Tourists are welcome to attend night tours in the scenic area. Eight sets of snow sculptures, 10 sets of ice sculptures and 25 comedy sculptures have been placed along the 6-km-long road surrounding the Jingyuetan Pool.