On January 10, the Sixth Ice and Snow Carnival at Jiaozi Mountain was kicked off at the Snow Play Park in the scenic area of Kunming’s Jiaozi Mountain. This carnival has become one of the most attractive ice and snow tourism brands in Yunnan Province. The event will continue until the end of March, allowing visitors to celebrate the arrival of the Year of the Snake in Jiaozi Mountain's new tourism "playground."

The Jiaozi Mountain Scenic Area is located in the northeastern corner of Luquan County, Kunming City, within the Wumeng Mountain Range. It is the only natural reserve around Kunming, situated at a latitude of 26°N, making it one of China's low-latitude winter snow-capped peaks, with a maximum elevation of 4,223 meters, earning it the title of "the first mountain in central Yunnan." Jiaozi Mountain enters its ice and snow season from late November to the following March, featuring vast snowy landscapes, rime ice, sea of clouds, sunrises, and ice waterfalls—four major natural wonders, making it one of the few ice and snow tourism destinations in Kunming.

The Snow Play Park in the Jiaozi Mountain Scenic Area covers an area of 6,000 square meters and includes various zones such as a free snow play area, an ice sculpture gallery, and a snow activity area. Visitors can not only admire ice sculpture art and take photos with large animal-themed inflatable displays and snow mountain rose installations but also enjoy snow-related activities like snow trekking, snow tubing, and snow excavation, experiencing the excitement and thrill of winter sports. A representative from Overseas Chinese Town Yunnan Scenic Area Company stated that in response to visitor demand, the Jiaozi Mountain area continues to offer diversified experiences, enhancing service quality and enriching product offerings while focusing on traditional sightseeing and snow-related activities. The goal is to create a new model for ice and snow tourism and optimize the consumption environment for ice and snow activities.

Currently, China's ice and snow economy is showing vigorous growth. In response to the booming demand for ice and snow tourism, Overseas Chinese Town Yunnan Scenic Area Company has introduced various ticket products for the Jiaozi Mountain Scenic Area during the winter season, including "early bird tickets," "rime ice special sessions," and "winter warmth special sessions," along with combined packages for "hotels + attractions." Additionally, they have created night climbing activities at Jiaozi Mountain, offering visitors a one-stop experience to stargaze and embrace the sunrise over the sea of clouds. Partnering with travel agencies and local attractions, they have launched options for one-day, two-day, and in-depth tours of ice and snow experiences, catering to the needs of urban residents seeking short trips as well as attracting tourists from across the country to experience the unique charm of Yunnan's ice and snow.

Today, the Jiaozi Mountain Scenic Area not only serves as a natural playground attracting visitors from both within and outside the province but also acts as a vital gateway for Southeast Asian tourists to break free from barriers and encounter the wonders of ice and snow. Since the onset of winter this year, the number of visitors to Jiaozi Mountain has shown robust growth, with a year-on-year increase of 59.8% from November to December. Moreover, inbound tourism has displayed new vitality, attracting large numbers of tourists from Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, and Malaysia to enjoy the ice and snow, with foreign group visitors increasing by 77% compared to the previous year.

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(Editors: Jennifer, Amy)