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REGIONAL> Culture Tourism
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Warm tours in a world of snow and ice
By Peng Yanqun (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-11-21 08:00
Snow and ice seem to mean anything but warmth. Yet seen from a different perspective - winter tourism - it warms the hearts of many in Jilin province. "Coldness is an uncomfortable feeling for some tourists," said Lin Tian, deputy head of the provincial tourism administration. "So we have proposed a new approach to enable tourists to experience 'warmth' about snow and add charm to our winter tourism," Lin said. From landscapes of snow glittering in the sunshine to icicles and frost blossoming on trees lining the banks of the Songhua River, from the exhilaration of skiing, and relaxation of hot springs, from ice fishing to local hospitality and candor, it all basks in the warmth of Jilin's winter tourism, he added. Situated between China's two other northeast provinces - Heilongjiang and Liaoning, Jilin has its own advantages in developing winter tourism. The province's average winter temperature is -15 C, with snow on the ground 100 to 120 days a year. In the Changbai Mountains, the snows last longer than half a year. Capitalizing on such cold resources, snow and ice activities are becoming hot. The province has developed more than 20 ski resorts, most of which are not far from urban areas and convenient to reach. Recent years saw a series of competitions held in the province, including the World Short Track Speed Skating Championships, the National Cross-Country Skiing Race and the Asian Winter Games. The sports events have brought more investment to skiing infrastructure. A string of more than 100 winter tourism festivals are also planned for various parts of the province including the capital Changchun, Jilin - a city with the same name as the province - Tonghua, known as home of wine, and the Changbai Mountains. Through the sports and tourism events, the province has greatly promoted its image as a winter tourist destination. |
