Beijing’s enduring legacy in winter sports is paving the way for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. The nation’s remarkable progress has once again captured global attention, showcasing explosive growth in its winter sports industry.
China has long championed the idea of sharing Olympic triumphs with every citizen. By promoting winter sports, the country boosts national fitness, elevates living standards through industry upgrades, creates jobs, and enables millions to enjoy the thrill and health benefits of ice and snow activities. This vision of collective participation, effort, and joy is at the heart of China’s strategy.
Today, Chinese winter sports are experiencing unprecedented advancement. The winter sports economy is booming at a rapid pace, with young people diving in enthusiastically. Together, they paint a vibrant picture of high-quality industry development.
At the recent Winter Olympics, China’s performances etched a historic milestone, opening a bold new chapter. In Sochi, no Chinese athlete competed in women’s slopestyle. In Beijing, Gu Ailing made history by reaching the finals alone. In Milan, four Chinese athletes participated, with Gu Ailing, Han Lingshan, and Liu Mengting all advancing to finals. Gu clinched silver, while Liu delivered her personal best for fifth place—a quantum leap.
This success underscores the comprehensive strength of Chinese winter sports, superior training systems, and talent pool depth. It proves the effectiveness of blending national mechanisms with social forces. The Chinese delegation showcased athletes’ prowess on the world stage.
Olympic fervor has injected new vitality into the ice and snow economy, turning it into a key consumption driver. Post-Beijing Olympics and Harbin Asian Winter Games, China’s ice and snow sector shattered seasonal and geographic barriers, achieving explosive growth.
In the 2024-2025 ski season, over 26 million tourists hit the slopes nationwide, reflecting nationwide passion. From northern ski resorts to southern ice rinks, the industry chain expands relentlessly. Snowy regions thrive economically, consumption booms, jobs multiply, and local economies gain momentum.
Youth and teens lead the charge, infusing fresh energy. In northern China, especially the three northeastern provinces, ‘winter sports in schools’ and ‘after-school winter programs’ define holidays, enriching teen leisure and preserving winter sports culture.
Stars like Su Yiming and Gu Ailing inspire hordes of youth. By the 2024-2025 season, 292 million residents engaged in winter sports, with youth participation surging dramatically, solidifying public foundations.
Olympic triumphs, thriving ice-snow economy, and youth involvement highlight China’s multifaceted progress. This marks a key step toward a sports powerhouse and vividly realizes shared Olympic benefits.
Looking ahead, as winter sports popularize and the industry advances qualitatively, more youth will chase dreams on ice and snow, making Chinese winter sports shine brighter globally.