Liaoning builds itself up a popular winter tourism hotspot

Northeast China’s Liaoning province is continuing to develop itself into a high-quality winter tourism destination, according to Wang Xiaojiang, deputy director of the Liaoning Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism.

The senior official said that in recent years, the province has put its focus on winter sports activities and hot springs, to attract tourists from all over the world. He said it also launched a range of special tourism products and routes featuring local folk customs.

This winter, Liaoning will launch a tourist campaign with 10 themes -- including winter sightseeing, ice sculptures, winter sports, folk customs in winter, hot springs, temple fairs and new year celebrations, the official said.

A series of activities will be held in this winter, such as lantern festivals, laser and firework performances, a strawberry picking festival, an event to experience Manchu ethnic group culture and fun games on ice.

Fourteen cities in Liaoning province will host a number of ice and snow activities, to entertain locals and attract tourists, Wang added.

Two tourists ride snowmobiles at Qipanshan Ice and Snow World in Shenyang, in January this year. [Photo by Long Lei/Xinhua]