The 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China, delivered a spectacular sports gala with the participation of 1,200 athletes from 34 countries and regions across Asia, and invigorated global winter sports.

This is the third time that China hosted the event. This time, 34 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) participated in the Games, exceeding the record of the 2017 edition in Sapporo, Japan, which was attended by 30 NOCs.

The cultural performances at the opening ceremony made full use of advanced technology like virtual and augmented reality, glasses-free 3D technology, and digital AI, creating a visually stunning experience for the audience, Nepali daily The Kathmandu Post reported.

From the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics to the Harbin 2025 Asian Winter Games, the principle of green and eco-friendly sustainability adhered to has attracted global attention. Harbin utilized existing ice event venues, reducing construction costs and ensuring local institutions would benefit from improved sports facilities after the event. For the first time in Asian Winter Games history, 100 percent green electricity was used. This sustainable model sets an example for future host cities.

Known as China's "ice city," Harbin is the birthplace of the country's modern winter sports and hosted the third edition of the Games in 1996 as well. In recent years, as China expands its winter economy, which encompasses sports, culture, and equipment, the ice and snow economy is becoming a new driving force for high-quality development of Harbin, and a link connecting it with the world.

Data from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism shows that during the last snow season, Harbin alone welcomed over 87 million visitors, marking a 300 percent year on year increase and generating 124.8 billion RMB (about 17.4 billion USD) in tourism revenue, up 500 percent.

According to a guideline issued by the General Office of the State Council, the ice and snow economy will be promoted as a new growth point. The goal is to reach 1.2 trillion RMB by 2027, and 1.5 trillion RMB by 2030.

"Behind the burgeoning ice and snow economy is the success of acting on the development philosophy of 'ice and snow are invaluable assets' and speaks to the enormous potential of China's economy," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said.

As winter sports and tourism surge, a batch of measures including optimizing the visa-free policy and opening new international flight routes, have encouraged many foreign tourists to embark on China travel.

"Winter tourism in China has rebounded sharply in a welcome boon, providing a boost to sluggish domestic consumption," said Reuters, adding that the growing popularity of winter sports has also drawn skiers and snowboarders to the slopes of Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region in northwest China.

China's burgeoning ice and snow economy has injected a new impetus into the global tourism market. Alexander Ayertey Odonkor, a global economist and columnist, wrote in an article, "China's emergence as a significant player in the global winter sports market presents a compelling opportunity for the international ice and snow industry."