Snow Tourism, which features skiing and other ice and snow activities, is becoming popular in China this winter.

China's three northeastern provinces, which have heavy snow in winter, are promoting a series of activities to attract tourists.

"Skiing is exciting, keeps you fit and relaxed and satisfies a tourist's wish to participate," said Cantonese Chen Zunian, who went to northeastern Heilongjiang province almost every year to participate in skiing.

"Snow tourism" in the nearby province Jinlin is also developing rapidly. Over a dozen standard ski resorts have been set up there.

Statistics show that over 100,000 Beijing people ski and suburban ski resorts have attracted many holiday-makers at weekends.

China's southwestern Sichuan province makes full use of the snow on its mountains and promotes the tourism program "spa bath in the snow".

The great potential and the likely profits in China's thriving snow tourism and related industries have caught worldwide attention, says Jean Pierre, an official with the World Tourism Organization.

China's snow tourism are reaching acceptable levels in terms of facilities and service. More Chinese are beginning to favor skiing and other snow activities, says Zhang Xiqin,vice director of the China National Tourism Administration.

( Xinhua News Agency November 29, 2001)