Beijing, November 24 – The 40th Yanqing Ice and Snow Festival launched on November 22 at the National Alpine Skiing Centre. This year’s festival integrates regional ice and snow resources, offering a multi-dimensional winter experience covering ice sports, snow parks, winter competitions, ice lantern temple fairs, winter performances, and local cultural activities. Over a hundred ice and snow activities and products provide comprehensive winter tourism offerings including dining, accommodation, transportation, entertainment, and shopping, continuously transforming “cold resources” into “hot economy” and allowing residents and visitors to enjoy winter fun in the world of ice and snow. The event will run from mid-November through late February 2026.
As one of the Winter Olympic venues, Yanqing continues to leverage its Olympic legacy advantages. During the ice and snow festival, high-level competitions including the Skeleton Intercontinental Cup and Asian Men’s Ice Hockey Invitational will be held, providing professional athletes with competitive exchange platforms. Simultaneously, public “Ice and Snow Carnival” series activities will launch, featuring youth ski training camps, public skating challenges, ice fishing competitions, and other programs that will be introduced gradually, making winter sports accessible to everyone. Whether beginners or experienced enthusiasts, all can find their own ice and snow enjoyment.
The Longqingxia Ice Lantern Festival will celebrate its 40th anniversary, scheduled from January 15 to February 28, 2026. Additionally, multiple scenic spots in Yanqing will simultaneously launch special activities. The Beijing International Horticultural Tourism Resort will host the 4th Beijing Garden Flower Lantern Art Festival, featuring classic animation IP collaborations. The Badaling Night Great Wall plans to hold New Year’s Eve parties and Spring Festival garden fairs, allowing visitors to welcome the new year amid brilliant lights and experience unique festive atmosphere at the foot of the Great Wall. The Meng Hua Great Wall Tea Horse Market Banquet will present four-chapter live performances. Ice and snow parks at Yudushan, Yunpu Valley, Shiyuan Park, Wild Duck Lake, and Longqingxia will also introduce innovations to ignite public enthusiasm for ice and snow activities.
Regarding accommodation and cultural experiences, major rural homestays in Yanqing will offer “Celebrating Chinese New Year in Homestays” activities. Sihai Town’s Dajixiang Village will organize spring festival couplet writing, paper cutting, and fortune character posting activities with “auspiciousness” as the theme. Yuanxiangli Homestay will create “Intangible Cultural Heritage Village at the Foot of the Great Wall – Folk Feast for Chinese New Year” activities, combining Great Wall scenery, intangible cultural heritage performances, and specialty foods, allowing visitors to experience a ritual-filled Spring Festival through unique homestay stays, folk cuisine, and cultural performances.
To further enhance visitor experience, this year’s ice and snow festival deepens government-enterprise cooperation, introducing multiple convenient services and promotional measures. Notably, the event will for the first time conduct live streaming interactions and offline resource exchanges with Xicheng District commercial areas, comprehensively expanding the event’s influence and coverage.
National Alpine Skiing Centre
The National Alpine Skiing Centre is a modern sports facility in Yanqing District, Beijing, China, constructed specifically for the 2022 Winter Olympics. It features advanced, environmentally friendly snowmaking technology and hosted the alpine skiing events during the Games. Its development was part of China’s broader initiative to promote winter sports and establish a lasting legacy for competitive skiing in the region.
Longqingxia Ice Lantern Festival
The Longqingxia Ice Lantern Festival is an annual winter event held in the scenic Longqing Gorge near Beijing, China. It began in 1987 and transforms the natural canyon into a spectacular display of illuminated ice and snow sculptures, often featuring intricate carvings and grand themed castles. The festival combines traditional Chinese lantern artistry with the region’s icy winter landscape, creating a vibrant celebration of light and culture.
Beijing International Horticultural Tourism Resort
The Beijing International Horticultural Tourism Resort is a large-scale ecological and recreational complex in Yanqing District, developed for the 2019 Beijing International Horticultural Exhibition. It showcases global horticulture, sustainable landscapes, and green technologies across its expansive gardens and pavilions. Today, it continues to operate as a major tourist destination promoting ecological civilization and cultural tourism.
Badaling Night Great Wall
The Badaling Night Great Wall is a section of the iconic Great Wall of China that is specially illuminated for evening visits. Originally built during the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) as a key military fortification, this area now offers a unique opportunity to experience the ancient structure under dramatic night-time lighting. The night tours provide a different perspective on the wall’s grandeur and have become a popular modern tourist attraction.
Meng Hua Great Wall Tea Horse Market Banquet
The Meng Hua Great Wall Tea Horse Market Banquet is a cultural experience in Yunnan, China, that revives the historic Tea Horse Road trade route. It combines a traditional market atmosphere with a feast, celebrating the ancient exchange of tea from Yunnan for Tibetan horses. This banquet allows visitors to immerse themselves in the region’s history through food, music, and reenactments of old trading customs.
Yudushan
Yudushan, or Yudu Mountain, is a significant cultural and religious site located in Hunan Province, China. It is renowned as a sacred mountain in Taoism, with a history of temple construction and spiritual practice dating back centuries. The site is celebrated for its beautiful natural scenery, which combines lush forests and unique rock formations with ancient architectural heritage.
Yunpu Valley
I am unable to provide a summary for “Yunpu Valley” as I do not have any specific information about this location in my knowledge base. It is possible that the name may be misspelled, refer to a very local or lesser-known site, or be a fictional place. To find accurate information, you may want to verify the name’s spelling or consult a specialized travel or geographical resource.
Wild Duck Lake
Wild Duck Lake, located in Yanqing District northwest of Beijing, is a vast wetland area and reservoir. Historically, it served as an imperial hunting ground during the Liao and Jin dynasties. Today, it is a protected ecological zone and a popular destination for bird watching and outdoor recreation.
