On January 30, the second day of the first lunar month, when I walked into the Wufeng International Ski Resort in Hubei Province, I saw mountains covered with snow and branches covered with rime. The snow paths were like white silk hanging from the top of the mountain, and their agile figures rushed past, splashing layers of snow mist. Ski enthusiasts from all over the country compete on the snow tracks and enjoy the passion and joy of ice and snow sports.

"The alpine scenery here is beautiful, the skiing equipment is complete, the track is rich, and the experience is particularly good." Liu Min, a tourist from Jingzhou, Hubei, and his friends made a special trip to experience the "first skiing in the New Year". "As the largest ski resort in Wuling Mountains, Wufeng International Ski Resort covers a total area of ​​400,000 square meters. It is planned to have 16 primary, middle and advanced skiing paths. The single-day reception volume can reach 6,000 people, which can fully meet the needs of tourists at different skiing levels." Shu Chengcheng, general manager of Wufeng International Ski Resort, said.

At 11 noon, a long queue was lined up in the ticket purchase hall, and ski enthusiasts were choosing their favorite ski equipment; the parking lot was full of tourist buses and self-driving vehicles, and the nearby Genting B&B Hotel was already full of tourists. "Since the winter vacation, our average daily visitor volume has been around 2,000." Shu Chengcheng introduced that the ski resort has joined forces with Wufeng International Hotel, Holiday Hotel and Genting Hotel at the foot of the mountain to launch accommodation ski packages, providing tourist bus pick-up and drop-off services, making travel more convenient and comfortable for tourists.

Not long ago, the second Volkswagen Ice and Snow Season "Zhaojun Tourism Cup" Ski Open in Yichang City, Hubei Province was held at Wufeng International Ski Resort, attracting more than 300 ski experts from all over the country to participate in the peak ice and snow racing. Shu Chengcheng said that Wufeng International Ski Resort holds events every year, and the brand effect of ice and snow has been initially demonstrated. From the first day of the first lunar month to the fifth day of the first lunar month, 105 guest rooms in Genting Hotel and B&B have all been booked.

This snow season, "new patterns" of ice and snow have frequently emerged. In addition to the intense and exciting competitive competitions and interesting ice and snow games, Wufeng International Ski Resort has also carefully prepared the "Didi Skating" project for tourists. For the first time, tourists who experience skiing only need to make an appointment for the "Didi Skating" service and enjoy the speed and passion brought by skiing with professional coaches.

The entire area of ​​Wufeng County was full of mountains. In the past, heavy snow was blocked in the middle of winter, and farmers could only "winter". In 2018, Wufeng International Ski Resort was built and operated on the mountain at an altitude of 2020 meters.

Over the past seven years, Wufeng International Ski Resort has continuously promoted and improved the construction of supporting projects, and further enriched and expanded the winter ice and snow tourism projects and scale by building Duling Genting Hotel, Genting Viewing, Train Hotel, and Container Hotel. During the Spring Festival, many tourists come here to celebrate the New Year's Eve. Since the official opening of the board on December 14, 2024, the number of receptions at Wufeng International Ski Resort has exceeded 30,000.

The popularity of the ski resort has also made the homestays along the way more and more popular. I wind up along the winding mountain road and pass National Highway 351 to Liziping Village, Caihua Township. What catches my eyes are ancient stilt houses. In the small village in the deep winter, the steaming fireworks came to the face. Wang Fang, the owner of the Zhuwu Mountain Villa farmhouse in the village, said happily: "In the past, when the cold winter came, the villa had no business, but now it is busier in winter, and the benefits have nearly doubled." Feng Meifeng, secretary of the Party Branch of Liziping Village, introduced that with the help of the popularity of the ski resort, the village focuses on developing a rural tourism industry that integrates folk customs, homestays, health care, and planting and breeding, and creates 32 leisure and tourism attractions, allowing tourists to enjoy flowers in spring, escape the summer heat, pick in autumn, and take a snow in winter. More than 50 farmhouses have been developed in the village, receiving 50,000 tourists annually, driving employment for more than 200 villagers, and the village's comprehensive operating income is nearly 10 million yuan.

Enjoy ice and snow scenery, watch ice and snow events, experience ice and snow homestays... In Hubei, more and more "cold resources" are transformed into "hot economy". It is understood that from January 1 to February 28, the number of ski hotel bookings in Hubei increased by 82.89% year-on-year.

"Ice and Snow + Study", "Ice and Snow + B&B", "Ice and Snow + Hot Spring"... In order to enhance the tourists' experience and stimulate the vitality of ice and snow consumption, various parts of Hubei have launched "special dishes" and turned the "one dish" of the ice and snow economy into a "one table of big meal".

"I am optimistic about the development of Badong Lucono Ski Resort. Here you can escape the summer and ski in winter." Zhang Yong, who was originally doing business outside, returned to his hometown in 2024 and opened a mid-to-high-end homestay. "The 'accommodation + skiing' package booking we launched is very popular, and the rooms are basically full during the Chinese New Year." Zhang Yong said.

Early early in the first day of the first lunar month, Wuhan tourist Wang Danfeng drove to Taohuachong Ski Resort in Yingshan County, Huanggang City: "Although this place is not as good as the snow in the north, it is very suitable for family trips. After skiing, you can soak in a hot spring, which is comfortable!"

"Ice and Snow+N" adds new vitality to Hubei's ice and snow economy. In Enshi, scenic spots represented by Enshi Grand Canyon have launched snow-appreciation tourism products, and the new tourism industry of "Ice and Snow + Health + Camping + B&B" has achieved outstanding results; in Xiangyang, high-quality routes such as the Three Kingdoms Cultural Ice and Snow Tour double the experiential, participatory and entertainment nature of ice and snow tourism; in Xianning, the "hot spring + skiing" tourism products allow tourists to enjoy "winter love songs"... At present, Enshi, Shennongjia, Yichang, Wuhan, Huanggang and other places have become nationally renowned ice and snow tourism destinations.

In order to promote the sustained and healthy development of the ice and snow economy, Hubei will issue 100 million yuan in cultural and tourism coupons (electronic coupons) to tourists across the country from January 10. After winning the lottery, tourists can enter key scenic spots, theme parks, hot springs, ski resorts, theaters and other tourist experiences for free. It is estimated that in the 2024-2025 ice and snow season, Hubei ice and snow tourism destinations will receive more than 20 million tourists.