Baotou residents play ice hockey on Qingshan Park's skating rink. [Photo/baotounews.com]

Baotou residents snowboard with protective gears at the Hondlon Ski Resort of Baotou. [Photo/baotounews.com]

Baotou received 717,000 tourists during the second cultural tourism ice and snow season as of Feb 23, generating economic benefits with a value of more than 24.80 million yuan ($3.92 million).

The city hosted its first ice and snow culture tourism season last year, with an investment of 28.7 million yuan. Six major ice and snow venues were created in scenic spots such as the Saikhantal  Resort and Baotou Park. This year, Baotou increased the number to 10 ice and snow fields.

Nearly 100 ice and snow art works were produced in various ice and snow fields via artificial snow making, ice sculpture, snow sculpture, and other forms. In Baotou Park, ice and snow events such as skating and slides made of snow are very popular among citizens.

In recent years, the city made full use of winter ice and snow resources to develop its ice and snow tourism economy. It has continuously met the needs of surrounding urban and rural residents for their winter leisure travel.

Going forward, Baotou will annually hold the ice and snow cultural tourism season. The purpose is to promote the city to become a winter tourism destination city and enhance the influence of Baotou's cultural tourism winter activity brand.