Recently, with a new round of temperature drops, many areas in Sichuan were transformed overnight into a silvery-white ice and snow world, attracting visitors from far and wide. From the emerald ice lake at Kangding's Mugecuo, to the professional ski slopes at Wenchuan's Qiangren Valley, and down to the hot spring pools at the foot of Mount Qingcheng, a comprehensive winter feast—blending snow mountain sightseeing, hot spring leisure, professional sports, and family-friendly entertainment—is now in full swing. Sichuan is leveraging its unique "warm snow on Shu Mountains" resource to propel its ice and snow tourism into the spotlight, transforming this "cold resource" into a "hot economy" that drives winter consumption and showcases the appeal of its cultural and tourism sector.

On January 23, the second "Kangding Ice &Snow, Warm Sun, Hot Spring Carnival 2026" was launched at the Kangding Love Song (Mugecuo) Scenic Area. At an altitude of 3,780 meters, Mugecuo presents a distinctive frozen lake landscape during the winter season. The scenic area has introduced an ice-floating experience. Wearing specialized flotation suits, visitors can recline on the surface of the emerald-like lake, gently drifting with the movement of the water. With the majestic Gongga Snow Mountain in view, this creates the wondrous scene of "people floating on ice, with snow-capped peaks reflected as if in a painting". "It's so thrilling, yet very relaxing and stress-relieving," exclaimed Lu Yingying, a tourist from Henan experiencing it for the first time. "The activities here brought back the joy of my childhood." Alongside the ice-floating experience, a variety of interactive activities such as ice biking, snow tank rides, and snow banana boating fill the entire winter wonderland with laughter and joy.

On the same day, the Qiangren Valley Ski Resort in Wenchuan County, Aba Prefecture, ignited winter passion with its expansive snowy vistas. Situated at the tri-border of Wenchuan, Lixian, and Maoxian counties and approximately a 2.5-hour drive from Chengdu, the Qiangren Valley Ski Resort has established itself as a new benchmark for ice and snow tourism in southwestern China, leveraging its reliable four-month snow season and superior geographical location. With a snowmaking area equivalent to approximately 30 standard football pitches, it features ten professional runs totaling over four kilometers in length. The resort operates western Sichuan's sole gondola lift dedicated to ski area access and can accommodate up to 5,000 visitors daily. This winter season, the ski resort has introduced new snow-viewing trails and expanded its recreational snow play area. It has added activities such as ATV four-wheel-drive vehicles and snow go-karts. By deeply integrating Qiang and Tibetan cultural elements, the resort has launched a "Skiing + Private Hot Spring + Qiang-style Dinner" package. This allows visitors to enjoy the thrill of snow sports while also experiencing heated lounge areas, savoring local delicacies like potato glutinous cakes (Yangyu Ciba), and appreciating the charm of the intangible cultural heritage item Qiang embroidery.

In recent years, Sichuan has actively promoted the deep integration of winter sports with cultural, sports, and tourism-related consumption. As the ice and snow economy continues to gain momentum, 19 ski resorts across the province have been introducing innovative initiatives. New scenarios such as "ice &snow + culture", "ice &snow + wellness", and "ice &snow + gastronomy" are continuously emerging. This expansion from traditional skiing and skating to a broad spectrum of experiences ensures that the "ice and snow boom" continues to inject fresh momentum into winter cultural and tourism consumption.

Today, through its "ice &snow plus" integration model, Sichuan is transforming its "cold resources" into a vibrant cultural and tourism industry. This burgeoning "hot snow" economy, sparked atop the snow-capped peaks, radiates like winter's most welcome warmth. It has ignited a profound passion for ice and snow throughout the Shu Mountains, bringing Sichuan's winter season to a vibrant, spirited crescendo.