Cold resource inspires ice and snow industry in Changchun

Experts, professional trainers and scholars in ice and snow industry and winter sports shared their views and suggestions on industrial development at the 2018 China Changchun Ice and Snow In-dustry Summit on Dec 5.

At the conference, Lu Fujian, deputy secretary general of Changchun, said China's ice and snow industry enters its golden age as the 2022 Winter Olympics will be held in the country. Many prefe-rential policies have been put forward to encourage the public to do winter sports.

"Changchun will seize the chance to promote its ice and snow culture to the world and inspire more people to fall in love with winter sports and ice and snow tourism," he added.

Zhao Yinggang, consultant of the Beijing Organising Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Para-lympic Winter Games, suggested that China should combine ice and snow tourism with winter sports.

He also mentioned such form of integration encourages travel enthusiasts to contribute to the pro-motion of an entire city.

Shan Zhaojian, the first skiing gold medalist in China, also stressed the significant role winter sport plays in city promotion.

He said the construction of ski resorts contributes to the rapid growth of the skiing industry, which is a part of ice and snow industry.

"Many aspects of a city, such as health, economy, transportation and ice and snow industrial chains can be improved," Shan explained.

"With skiing fields, more people are encouraged to participate in winter sports, which help people become healthier. As people have more demand of travelling to the resort, transportation system and supporting facilities for skiing have to be improved."

Shan, the first skiing gold medalist in China delivers a speech on the significant role winter sport plays in city promotion at the 2018 China Changchun Ice and Snow Industry Summit on Dec 5. [Photo provided to ejilin.gov.cn]

Shan also said Changchun government has make full use of the new form integrating tourism and winter sports, which has been a model to other cities in China.

"Such form has made contributions to China's skiing development," he stressed.

He expressed his willingness to see more skiing resorts to be built in Changchun.

During the forum, Dustin Woods, a coach training the National team for Pyeongchang 2018, shared his suggestions to strengthen the training for professional athletes and skiing enthusiasts.

After the conference, he also said that he believes Changchun will play an important role in pro-moting China's ice and snow industry.

The forum is a part of the 2018 China Changchun Ice and Snow Travel Festival and was sponsored by the China Tourism Academy, the academy focusing on the development of ice and snow industry in urban areas at the National Development and Reform Commission, the China Chang-chun Ice and Snow Travel Festival Commission, the Changchun Tourism Bureau and the Chang-chun Sports Bureau.