Online travel service provider Tongcheng Travel on Dec 2 released its 2024 Winter Travel Trend Report, revealing that ice and snow tourism is the hottest travel theme this season, with Harbin, capital of China's northernmost Heilongjiang province, leading the list of popular destinations.
 
Since November, searches related to ice and snow tourism on the Tongcheng Travel platform have surged more than threefold. Heilongjiang, Jilin and Xinjiang were the first to enter the winter season, offering a variety of winter tourism products.
 
Data shows that Harbin, which was a hit last winter, remains a top destination for ice and snow tourism this year. Other popular destinations include Beijing, the Changbai Mountains, Altay and Zhangjiakou.
 
Emerging destinations such as Yanbian, Urumqi, Qiqihar, Aba, and Jilin city have also seen significant increases in popularity, with winter tourism interest in these cities rising by over 60 percent year-on-year.
 
Since November, the popularity of domestic hot spring tourism has increased by 178 percent. Harbin, in particular, has continuously introduced new hot spring experiences, combining indoor and outdoor bathing with snowy landscapes and offering a variety of fresh fruits and beverages.