Changbai Mountain Snow·Meet at Winter Universiade
Southeast Asia Winter Resort Column (Episode 3)
In January 2027, the 33rd FISU World University Winter Games will be held in Changchun and Jilin City, Jilin Province, China. Beidahu, CTG Lake Songhua, Jingyuetan, Lianhuashan, Jilin Provincial Speed Skating Gymnasium and Wuhuan Gymnasium will together form the competition venue matrix, presenting spectacular events to audiences. Young winter sports athletes from more than 60 countries and regions around the world will compete on the snowy fields of Northeast China. Why was Jilin Province chosen to host the Winter Universiade? What winter wonders await here? Reporters recently travelled to Jilin Province to find out.
Jilin Province sits on the world-renowned golden powder snow belt, on a par with the Alps in Europe and the Rocky Mountains in North America. It is one of the few premium winter tourism destinations in the world. At present, Jilin Province has 361 ski runs covering a total area of 1,414 hectares and is home to five national-level ski resorts — the highest number in China. It is also the province with the best ski facilities and the largest visitor reception capacity in China. Its superior natural winter conditions and well-developed winter sports venues make it an irreplaceable ski resort paradise in Asia.
Beyond ice and snow, Jilin Province also possesses a rich and diverse cultural heritage. This is a land where multiple ethnic groups live together, with Shamanic culture, fishing-hunting culture, and lumber culture passed down through generations, and the folk customs of the Manchu, Korean, and Mongolian peoples remaining vivid and vibrant. The Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom are inscribed as a World Cultural Heritage site, while the Nongak Dance and Changbai Mountain Paper-cutting are included on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. From the majestic ecology of Changbai Mountain Global Geopark and Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park, to the industrial memories embodied in the FAW Museum in Changchun and Jiapigou Gold Mine — China's premier gold mine — natural wonders and human heritage complement each other, making the journey far more than ice-and-snow sightseeing; it offers a chance to read the timeless stories of this land.
To cater to overseas tourists, Jilin continues to improve its inbound tourism support services. Changchun Longjia and Yanji Chaoyangchuan international airports connect the province with destinations at home and abroad. High-speed railways, winter tourism shuttle buses and custom passenger routes within the province form a convenient travel network, enabling seamless transfers to major ski resorts and scenic spots. Multilingual guides, convenient payment and departure tax refund services are continuously optimised. For the 2026–2027 snow season, Jilin Province has rolled out RMB 70 million worth of winter consumption vouchers, covering skiing, scenic spots, transport, shopping and other scenarios. These effectively reduce travel costs and provide convenient and affordable winter travel options for overseas visitors.
Walking through Changchun and Jilin City, you will find venues for winter tourism and winter cultural experiences scattered everywhere. Small ice-and-snow landscape installations can be seen throughout the cities, and urban snow sculptures adorn the streets and lanes. The rich Guandong winter folk culture, authentic northern urban life, and distinctive Northeast Chinese cuisine allow you to enjoy not only speed and passion but also a different kind of worldly charm.
For visitors from tropical Southeast Asia, Jilin's ice and snow offer a refreshing and unique experience. Watch exciting Winter Universiade events and see young athletes strive bravely; gallop down alpine ski slopes; stroll beneath rime ice; witness the spectacular winter fishing at Chagan Lake; bathe in snow-framed hot springs at Changbai Mountain; and sample authentic Northeast Chinese cuisine. Immerse yourself in the grandeur of forest-blanketed snowlands and the customs of multiple ethnic groups living in harmony.
In recent years, Jilin Province's world-class winter charm has continued to win over tourists from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Southeast Asia, with visitor numbers from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and other regions climbing steadily. Taking Malaysia as an example, in 2025, Jilin Province received 16,600 inbound tourists from Malaysia, a year-on-year increase of 31.5%. This winter, driven by the "Travel Jilin with the Winter Universiade" campaign, this figure is expected to rise further.
Laoyeling, Jiaohe — "Glory of the Rosy Clouds"/photographed by Jiang Zhuoyan
With the upgrading of all competition venues and facilities for the 2027 Winter Universiade, all ski resorts and winter sports venues in Jilin Province will become more professional, offer a stronger experience and provide better services. It is reported that after the conclusion of this Winter Universiade, all competition venues and facilities will be fully open to the public. By then, every visitor will be able to stand on the field of international competition and enjoy the same world-class powder snow and top-level skiing experience in calm winds and warm sunshine as the athletes.
（Contributed to the Hong Kong Commercial Daily）
