As of April 2024, China is home to six of the world’s eight largest indoor ski venues by snow area, according to research by the Beijing Ski Association. These venues are located in cities across the country, including Harbin, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Huzhou, and Changsha. Notably, five of these cities—except Harbin—are situated in the warmer southern regions of China.
The Beijing Ski Association’s report highlights that there are a total of 60 indoor ski venues across the nation. Among these, Zhejiang, Hunan, and Jiangsu provinces lead the country in the number of indoor skiing facilities.
The 2023-2024 snow season saw significant growth in skier numbers, with Zhejiang province seeing a 2% increase, reaching 1.27 million skiers. Further south, Guangdong province experienced a remarkable 41.7% rise, bringing the total to 1.02 million skiers.
In recent years, several large-scale indoor ski facilities have been established. For example, the Shanghai L+SNOW Indoor Skiing Theme Resort in Pudong district, which received a hefty investment of 7 billion yuan, houses one of the world’s largest indoor ski venues, covering nearly 99,000 square meters. Since its opening in September, the venue has drawn approximately 2,000 visitors daily, with the number surging to over 8,000 visitors per day during the Spring Festival. This facility has become a major leisure attraction, significantly enhancing Shanghai’s tourism options.
Additionally, Shenzhen is preparing for the launch of a new indoor ski venue by the end of 2025, backed by a 36.7 billion yuan investment. The venue will feature a snow area of 100,000 square meters, setting a new record for indoor ski venues.
