As winter blankets the city, Harbin, China's renowned \"Ice City\", is once again in the spotlight with the upcoming 9th Asian Winter Games. This major international event follows the successful 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and is set to be the largest edition in the history of the Asian Winter Games, featuring the highest number of participating countries and athletes.
A recent CGTN survey targeting global netizens reveals a strong optimism about China's ice and snow economy. An overwhelming 96% of respondents believe that the Asian Winter Games will ignite enthusiasm for ice and snow sports both in Asia and globally. Additionally, 87.8% of participants are confident that the Games will foster greater exchanges and cooperation among Asian countries.
The survey highlights China's growing passion for ice and snow activities, with data showing that the number of enthusiasts has surged to 313 million since the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, and 264 million have actively participated since the winter of 2023. Moreover, 96.6% of respondents agree that international sports events play a crucial role in popularizing these sports within China.
Beyond traditional northern regions, indoor ice and snow venues are emerging in warmer southern areas, breaking geographical and climatic barriers. This expansion is part of the innovative \"ice and snow +\" model, which integrates commercial, cultural, tourism, and sports activities such as \"ice and snow + shopping\" and \"ice and snow + tourism.\" An impressive 91.9% of survey participants believe this model will drive local consumption upgrades and industrial transformation, while 94.7% see the ice and snow economy as a new growth accelerator for China's economy.
The ripple effect of the Asian Winter Games is expected to infuse new vitality into China's ice and snow economy, with 92.1% of respondents optimistic about its future development. Furthermore, 95% believe that favorable policies and growing market demand will brighten the prospects of this sector.
The survey was released across CGTN's English, Spanish, French, Arabic, and Russian platforms, garnering participation from 4,607 netizens within the first 24 hours.
Reference(s):
CGTN Poll: Global respondents feel the upturn of China's economy
cgtn.com
