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Journal of Resources and Ecology >

2026 , Vol. 17 >Issue 2: 388 - 398

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5814/j.issn.1674-764x.2026.02.005

Ice-Snow Tourism and Eco-Tourism

Ice and Snow Traditional Cultural Elements Empowering the Sustainable Development of Ice and Snow Sports Tourism

  • LI Huang , 1, 2 ,
  • ZHANG Wensu 3 ,
  • LIU Zhu , 4, *
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  • 1 School of Sociology and History, Shenyang Normal University, Shenyang 110034, China
  • 2 Institute of Borderland Studies, Shenyang Normal University, Shenyang 110034, China
  • 3 School of Physical Education, University of Jinan, Jinan 250022, China
  • 4 School of Economics and Management, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China
* LIU Zhu, E-mail:

LI Huang, E-mail:

Received date: 2025-01-13

  Accepted date: 2025-12-10

  Online published: 2026-04-13

Supported by

The Fundamental Research Funds for Provincial Universities in Liaoning Province(LJ132410166033)

The Basic Research Program Team Project of the Liaoning Provincial Department of Education(LJ112410157104)

The 2024 Youth Project of the Liaoning Social Science Planning Foundation(L24CFX007)

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Abstract

Traditional culture is a crucial pillar for the sustainable development of the tourism industry. This study aims to uncover the intrinsic value of traditional ice and snow cultural elements and examine their role in empowering the sustainable development of ice and snow sports tourism, thereby supporting the goal of building a leading ice and snow sports nation. By applying documentary research and logical analysis, this study systematically elucidates the connotative characteristics through which traditional ice and snow cultural elements contribute to sustainable tourism development, identifies key practical challenges constraining this sector, and proposes targeted and actionable development pathways. The findings indicate that traditional ice and snow cultural elements have evolved primarily through two historical stages—ancient and modern—characterized by continuity, regional specificity, and cultural richness. These elements empower ice and snow sports tourism by providing diverse cultural resources and a sustained historical narrative. However, current development faces several challenges, including superficial cultural exploration, homogenized development models, low participation in traditional cultural activities, and the distortion or alienation of cultural elements in some tourism projects. Accordingly, this study proposes four development pathways: (1) Constructing a deep cultural narrative system to transform tourist experiences from “landscape presentation” to “cultural immersion”; (2) Promoting the creative transformation of traditional techniques and activities to build a distinctive cultural IP product system; (3) Strengthening regional cultural identifiers by implementing a differentiated “one region, one product” strategy that integrates culture, sports, and tourism; and (4) systematically organizing and revitalizing the history of modern Sino-Western exchange in ice and snow culture to enhance cultural depth and international dialogue capabilities. Collectively, these measures aim to promote the substantive, high-quality, and sustainable development of ice and snow sports tourism.

Key words： ice and snow traditional cultural elements; ice and snow history; sustainable development; ice and snow sports tourism

Cite this article

LI Huang , ZHANG Wensu , LIU Zhu . Ice and Snow Traditional Cultural Elements Empowering the Sustainable Development of Ice and Snow Sports Tourism[J]. Journal of Resources and Ecology, 2026 , 17(2) : 388 -398 . DOI: 10.5814/j.issn.1674-764x.2026.02.005

1 Introduction

In 2016, Chinese leader Xi Jinping made a crucial declaration: “ice and snow are also golden mountains” (Chen et al.,2022). In addition, the successful 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games offered critical theoretical and practical momentum for the development of China’s ice and snow sports industry, the expansion of ice and snow tourism, and the popularization of winter sports, thereby promoting the high-quality integration of sports and tourism (Wang and Fan, 2023). In 2023, the State Council issued Several Measures on Releasing the Potential of Tourism Consumption and Promoting the High-Quality Development of the Tourism Industry, which proposed the implementation of the Sports Tourism Excellence Demonstration Project, promoted the integrated planning and development of sports events and tourism activities, emphasized the cultivation of the ice and snow economy, and encouraged the extension of the ice and snow sports industry chain, including snow and ice equipment manufacturing and ice and snow tourism. In recent years, China’s ice and snow sports tourism has exhibited new development characteristics, including the expansion of destination spaces and the diversification of consumption content toward multi-industry integration (Wang, 2022). However, from the perspective of sustainable development, multiple structural challenges remain, including the excessive homogeneity of development paths across regions, the misalignment between traditional cultural resources and the modern ice and snow industry, and the distortion or alienation of traditional sports tourism projects. These issues restrict the formation of differentiated competitiveness and undermine cultural authenticity, thereby weakening the long-term sustainability of ice and snow sports tourism.
Therefore, this study foregrounds the empowering role of traditional ice and snow cultural elements in the sustainable development of ice and snow sports tourism. By systematically identifying existing practical dilemmas, this research proposes targeted development pathways aligned with the requirements of the new era. The study aims to provide theoretical reference and policy-oriented insights to support the high-quality and sustainable development of China’s ice and snow sports tourism (Li et al., 2024).
Traditional ice and snow culture has become an indispensable component of Chinese traditional sports culture after thousands of years of development (Fu et al., 2022). With its continuous evolution, its contemporary value has become increasingly evident. Chinese scholars have interpreted the contemporary value of traditional culture from multiple perspectives. Mao (2023) posited that for Chinese traditional sports culture, ice and snow sports culture has emerged as a core and indispensable component. Zhang (2018) proposed that in the context of organizing the Beijing Winter Olympics, inheriting excellent traditional culture, and developing ice and snow sports and ice and snow industries, systematic research on and dissemination of traditional Chinese ice and snow sports culture yields multiple benefits: 1) It contributes to the prosperity of national traditional sports culture and the enhancement of cultural self-confidence; 2) It facilitates the inheritance of intangible cultural sports heritage and the protection of cultural security; 3) It promotes the prosperity of sports historiography and the analysis of national traditional sports and the construction of sports disciplines; 4) It supports the development of the culture of sports programs and the enhancement of the cultural connotation associated with the ice-snow sports and ice-snow industry; 5) It enables the development of a sports culture for minority nationalities, thereby enhancing national unity and cultural exchanges; and 6) It enriches the winter Olympic culture, and enhances the international influence of Chinese sports culture (Zhang, 2018).
He and Zhang (2020) emphasized that traditional ice and snow sports can improve the physical and mental health literacy of the public, spreading cultural values via traditional ice and snow sports, and promoting the formation of a new national fitness paradigm. Zhang (2022) posits that the value of traditional ice and snow culture in Northeast China plays a significant role in advancing traditional ice and snow sports, implementing the national fitness strategy, and promoting rural revitalization. Accordingly, the development of the traditional ice and snow cultural industry in Northeast China should follow a fundamental strategy that regards culture as the carrier, science as the guide, and inheritance as the core objective.
From a tourism and industry perspective, Tang et al. (2022) analyzed the post-Beijing Winter Olympics development status and challenges of China’s ice and snow tourism, proposing an eight-path framework for achieving high-quality and sustainable growth. Sun et al. (2023) examined the market responses of ice and snow destinations in northern China to the tourism willingness of southern residents, identifying preferred activity types and supply-demand mismatches, thereby providing empirical support for destination marketing and development strategies. In addition, scholars have explored the development of ice and snow tourism (Chen et al., 2022; Song et al., 2022) and the broader ice and snow economy (Zhu et al., 2025).
Based on previous studies, it is generally acknowledged that the academic community has affirmed the practical value and contemporary significance of traditional ice and snow history and culture. However, existing studies tend to place greater emphasis on macro-level policy guidance and value interpretation, while paying relatively limited attention to the specific empowering mechanisms through which traditional ice and snow culture influences the ice and snow sports tourism industry. As a result, the pathways through which traditional cultural elements are transformed into sustainable tourism value remain insufficiently articulated.
Building on existing scholarship, this study provides a more refined classification of traditional ice and snow culture and examines its empowering role in the sustainable development of ice and snow sports tourism. By analyzing the current limitations of ice and snow sports tourism— particularly the insufficient integration of traditional cultural elements—this study proposes targeted practical pathways and policy-oriented countermeasures tailored to the contemporary development context of China’s ice and snow sports tourism.

2 Connotative features of traditional ice and snow culture empowering the sustainable development of ice and snow sports tourism

China’s ice and snow traditional culture gradually through long-term production practices, daily life experiences, and sustained interaction with harsh natural environments, reflecting humanity’s continuous efforts to adapt to and transform nature (Xu and Zhu, 2006). Closely intertwined with specific modes of production and lifestyles, this culture embodies distinct regional and temporal characteristics shaped by historical context. Based on a systematic review and statistical analysis of historical documents containing traditional ice and snow cultural elements (Figure 1), this study conceptualizes traditional ice and snow culture as a multidimensional cultural system. This system integrates material practices, behavioral activities, institutional arrangements, and spiritual values, all of which have been continuously transmitted and transformed across historical periods.
Figure 1 Elements of traditional Chinese ice and snow culture in historical documents
Specifically, traditional ice and snow culture refers to a composite system of practices, knowledge, artifacts, and beliefs related to ice and snow that emerged, evolved, and were inherited within China’s particular geographical, climatic, and social environments. Rooted in human survival and production needs, it was formed through prolonged adaptation to and utilization of ice and snow resources. Its connotations are manifested in ice and snow activities (e.g., skating, skiing, hunting), material objects (e.g., ice beds, sleds, traditional winter footwear), spatial sites (e.g., frozen rivers and snowfields), as well as institutional norms, customs, and spiritual qualities associated with winter life.
To better clarify the analytical object and its empowering role in contemporary tourism development, this study adopts a temporal classification framework, dividing traditional ice and snow culture into ancient and modern stages (Table 1). This approach facilitates a systematic examination of how different historical forms of ice and snow culture contribute to the sustainable development of ice and snow sports tourism through cultural continuity, experiential value creation, and identity construction.
Table 1 Stages and representations of traditional ice and snow culture
Stages Dimension Presentation/Content
Ancient Production and survival Ski hunting (e.g., Altai petroglyphs), ice sled transport, ice fishing, dog sledding; bone skates for transport and production (Look H, 2005)
Military and ritual Ice fortifications, Ice-skating ceremony(Li H et al., 2025); used for military training and defense
Daily life and folklore Ice games (e.g., ice cuju), ice bed recreation, winter clothing and food; reflects seasonal adaptation and folk customs(Su K, Wang J, 2018)
Cultural traits Strongly functional and regional; evolved from survival needs, gradually gaining recreational and aesthetic dimensions
Modern Introduction and spread Western ice sports (speed skating, figure skating, ice hockey) introduced via treaty ports, missionary schools, and military institutions
Campus and urban expansion After the May Fourth Movement, ice sports entered northern schools and expanded into urban public spaces as popular winter leisure activities
Sino-Western fusion Traditional elements integrated with modern events; e.g., ice performances incorporating opera, temple fair motifs, creating localized expressions
Functional shift Shift from production and military use to specialized sports and recreation; increasing trends in competition, education, and commercialization
Cultural traits Increased standardization and spectatorship; enhanced public participation and international exchange; ice activities begin gaining economic and tourism value

2.1 Ancient ice and snow culture

In ancient times, especially in northern China, communities living under severe climatic conditions developed a rich and resilient ice and snow culture as a fundamental means of adapting to nature. Relying on accumulated experience and indigenous wisdom, these practices ensured long-term production, survival, and social continuity, while fostering a harmonious relationship between humans and the natural environment.
The emergence of ice- and snow-based production practices marked the early formation of ancient ice and snow culture. In the Altay region of Xinjiang, rock paintings from the Dundebulak rock shelter depict four individuals herding cattle and horses, three of whom are stepping on snowboard-like implements while holding long poles. Based on archaeological evidence and hunting data, scholars argue that these images represent ski-assisted hunting activities, reflecting early human adaptation to snowy environments (Figure 2).
Figure 2 Dundebulak cave painted rock paintings
Notably, evidence indicates that as early as 10000- 30000 years ago, humans in the Altay region were already engaging inskiing-related activities. Additional ski-hunting petroglyphs discovered in the Tahtubek mountainous area depict hunters wearing skis, holding ski poles, and carrying arrow quivers, illustrating the diverse skiing techniques and survival strategies developed by Altay ancestors over long historical periods (Wang, 2012). An ancient text records: “There is a country called Dingling, whose people have hairy horse hooves under their knees and are skilled at walking on snow” ① . Scholars generally interpret this description as ametaphorical or exaggerated account of early ski use among local populations (Wang, 2011).
In North China, no later than the Northern Song-Liao confrontation period, Ling-beds were used to transport goods and people across frozen rivers during winter. In Northeast China, historical records from the Northern and Southern Dynasties describe the Bei-shiwei and Bo-shiwei tribes engaging in ice fishing and hunting, activities regarded as some of the earliest documented forms of tool-assisted ice mobility (Li, 1974).
By the late Jin Dynasty, dog-sled transportation systems had emerged in northeastern regions. Historical sources describe relay stations where “four dogs were used to pull wagons, moving as swiftly as flying” (Zhou, 1988). In addition, to transportation, ancient Chinese societies developed specialized winter clothing, food preservation techniques, housing adaptations, and mobility tools, reflecting the comprehensive integration of ice and snow into everyday life.
Ice and snow also played a significant role in military culture. During the Jingkang Rebellion, winter warfare between the Song and Jin armies exploited frozen rivers, resulting in tactical advantages and battlefield disorder: “ Before reaching the northern bank, more than ten paces away, the river ice was sunk and cracked, and the soldiers were in a state of shock and disarray” (Chen, 2019). Similarly, the Qing Dynasty Ice-skating Ceremony functioned as a formalized military training ritual, combining physical conditioning with ceremonial and symbolic significance.
In the twelfth month of the eighth year of the Hongwu era (1376), Nahachu invaded Liaodong. Liaodong generals in the Lianyundao to Cave Chi two places along the river more than ten miles, built ice for the city, and also in front of the city on the ground hidden hurt horse hooves nail plate. Nahachu, who lost the war, fled northward to this place, encountered the ice city to block the way, and the horses all fell into the trap ② . The Ice-skating Ceremony of the Qing Dynasty, moreover, has a clear military value as a traditional custom of both state and nation and represents a crucial rite of military training.
The ice and snow sports culture initially emerged as a method of improving people’s basic living conditions (Figure 3). Bone ice skates excavated from the Nileke Jirentai Goukou site in Xinjiang, made from cattle and horse bones, closely resemble early European bone skates (Figure 4). Although these skates were likely used primarily for production and transportation, they represent the material foundation for the later sportification of ice activities.
Figure 3 Bone ice skates unearthed from the Gaotai remains of the Nilekeji Rentai Gou Kou site in Xinjiang
Figure 4 Bone ice skates from the Roman Iron Age(Hartford R, 2009)
Over time, ice-related practices gradually acquired recreational, performative, and aesthetic attributes. During the Jin-Yuan period, ice-based games such as thigh stone play and ice Tajv emerged, serving both entertainment and bodily protection functions (Liu and Yu, 1996).
By the Ming and Qing dynasties, recreational skating using ice beds became popular in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, often accompanied by drinking, poetry, and moonlight appreciation. In the Qing court, ice-skating performances were further institutionalized, elevating ice recreation into a form of courtly spectacle and cultural expression (Li et al., 2024).
In summary, ancient ice and snow culture is characterized by a high degree of integration between practicality and regional specificity. Functionally, it served transportation, production, daily life, and military training. In terms of activity forms, most practices evolved organically from subsistence needs, while seasonal folk and recreational activities gradually emerged. From a cultural perspective, ancient ice and snow culture laid the material, technical, and symbolic foundations for later developments, transforming ice and snow from natural constraints into utilizable cultural resources. These historical practices provide narrative content, symbolic meaning, and experiential prototypes that can be creatively transformed to empower contemporary ice and snow sports tourism.

2.2 Modern ice and snow culture

Since modern times, the exchange and fusion of Chinese and Western ice and snow cultures have been characterized by apparent exchanges.
Following the First Opium War, China was forced to open to the outside world, and Western political, economic, military, and cultural influences gradually penetrated Chinese society. After the 1840s, modern Western ice and snow sports were introduced into China through two main pathways: Western inward transmission and Chinese outward learning. During this process, activities such as speed skating, figure skating, and ice hockey were successively introduced, initially appearing in treaty ports, missionary schools, and military institutions.
After the May Fourth Movement in 1919, driven by educational reform, nationalism, and the modernization of physical education, Western ice and snow sports gradually became mainstream winter sports in many schools in northern China, particularly in North and Northeast China. Originating on campuses, these sports expanded into urban public spaces and recreational venues, evolving into popular winter leisure activities (Li, 2023). This marked a critical transition of ice and snow culture from folk-based practices to institutionalized modern sports, significantly enhancing its social visibility and participation base.
During the late Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China traditional ice and snow sports in northern China coexisted with modern Western ice and snow sports, forming a complex cultural landscape characterized by both competition and integration. As modern sports gained institutional support and social prestige, the dominance of traditional ice and snow activities gradually declined, and public enthusiasm increasingly shifted toward watching and participating in modern competitive sports.
However, this transformation did not result in the complete disappearance of traditional elements. Instead, traditional ice and snow cultural symbols continued to be embedded within modern sports practices. For example, in large- scale ice and snow performances and festive skating events, Western-style sport formats were often combined with traditional Chinese costumes, folk imagery, and ceremonial expressions. Over time, these expressions evolved from superficial decoration to more localized and culturally conscious representations.
These Chinese-style representations include not only traditional folk cultural symbols—such as opera characters, temple fair performances, and festival rituals—but also newly constructed cultural images that integrate traditional symbolism with contemporary social narratives. As Li and Liu (2023) notes, such hybrid forms reflect an ongoing process of cultural negotiation and creative adaptation, demonstrating that modernization does not necessarily imply cultural homogenization.
From the late Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China period, ice and snow culture underwent a structural transformation driven by both internal social change and external cultural influence. Functionally, modern Western ice and snow sports gradually separated from their original productive and military purposes, becoming specialized sports and recreational activities. Competitive, recreational, and perormative dimensions were increasingly differentiated and institutionalized.
With respect to activity forms, standardized competitions, school-based ice and snow curricula, and urban recreational skating venues emerged, promoting broader public participation. Culturally, this period marked a shift from “traditional folk customs” to “modern sports and leisure culture”, introducing concepts of rules, fairness, spectatorship, and international exchange. Importantly, ice and snow activities began to generate economic value and tourism appeal, particularly in urban winter festivals and regional ice and snow events.
From the perspective of sports tourism, modern ice and snow culture provided three key empowering foundations:
(1) Standardization, which facilitated large-scale participation and event organization;
(2) Spectatorship, which enhanced the experiential and entertainment value of ice and snow activities;
(3) Cultural integration, which enriched tourism narratives by combining international sport forms with local cultural identity.

3 The insufficient excavation of traditional ice and snow cultural elements

In recent years, especially following the Beijing Winter Olympics, China's ice and snow sports tourism has experienced rapid growth, particularly in northern regions with favorable climatic and environmental conditions. However, despite quantitative expansion, the qualitative development of ice and snow sports tourism remains constrained by persistent structural and cultural problems. In general, although China’s ice and snow sports tourism sector has improved significantly, challenges related to the insufficient excavation, interpretation, and application of traditional ice and snow cultural elements continue to hinder its sustainable development.

3.1 Superficial cultural understanding and severe homogenization of development paths

In recent years, numerous ski resorts have emerged across China, and concerns regarding their sustainability have increasingly been raised (Tang et al., 2023). Currently, the development of ice and snow sports tourism overly relies on modern ice and snow sports templates, with a widespread “copy-and-paste” planning approach evident from natural ski resorts in northern China to indoor ice and snow facilities in southern regions. Ice and snow tourism projects across various regions exhibit a high degree of content convergence, predominantly characterized by simple combinations such as “skiing+vacation+folk culture display”, leading to a pronounced dilution of regional distinctiveness. This homogenization primarily stems from a superficial understanding of local, deep-rooted ice and snow cultural traditions, which fails to support the construction of a coherent cultural narrative system spanning prehistoric, imperial, and modern periods. For instance, historically rich resources—including the ten-thousand-year skiing origins in Altay, the Ice-skating Ceremony rituals of the Qing Dynasty, and diverse ice-related sports practices during the Jin and Yuan dynasties—have not been systematically excavated or transformed into distinctive tourism themes or experiential products. Consequently, the humanistic core of ice and snow tourism remains vague, and its cultural identity lacks sufficient recognition across regions from the Northwest to Northeast regions.

3.2 Shortage of transformation and innovation mechanisms

Within ice and snow sports tourism, traditional ice and snow sports activities are largely disconnected from modern tourism products. On one hand, modern activities such as competitive skiing and skating overwhelmingly dominate tourism offerings, whereas culturally rich traditional activities such as ice beds (sleds), Ice Tajv, ice top spinning, and traditional ice plays are either absent or relegated to marginal, symbolic roles. On the other hand, even when traditional activities are introduced, they often exhibit significant distortion and alienation.
For example, traditional manually pulled ice beds have been replaced by modern self-driven ice vehicles, stripping them of their original social and recreational meaning. Dog sledding has generated controversy due to inappropriate breed selection and animal welfare concerns, while attempts to revive Fancy-dress Skating have frequently lost the creativity, craftsmanship, and emotional expression inherent in its historical handmade costumes. These phenomena reveal fundamental deficiencies in the preservation, transmission, and adaptive transformation of traditional ice and snow techniques, as well as the absence of effective mechanisms that bridge cultural authenticity with modern safety, aesthetic and experiential requirements. Consequently, a persistent disjunction exists between cultural preservation and market-oriented development.

3.3 Ambiguous regional cultural characteristics and erosion of cultural brands

China’s ice and snow culture is inherently characterized by pronounced regional diversity, as reflected in the nomadic hunting traditions of Xinjiang, the fishing and hunting folklore of Northeast China, and the courtly ceremonial ice culture of North China. However, in practical development, regional cultural characteristics have been significantly blurred. Many ice and snow tourism destinations indiscriminately pursue standardized and internationalized development models, enthusiastically replicating the hardware facilities, spatial layouts, and activity formats of successful cases while neglecting the deep integration of local ice and snow narratives, architectural styles, festival customs, and artistic expressions.
As a result, so-called ethnic customs often degenerate into superficial decorative symbols rather than forming an experiential core closely embedded in the local natural environment and historical context. This cultural hollowing-out development model not only leads to homogenized competition among tourism products but also hinders regions from cultivating unique cultural brands with long-term attractiveness, recognition, and competitiveness.

3.4 Fractured modern Sino-Western integration, missing historical links

The period from the late Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China marked a critical phase in the modern transformation of China’s ice and snow culture. During this era, Western ice and snow sports were introduced, localized, and innovatively integrated into Chinese society, producing a unique landscape of Sino-Western cultural interaction. However, this historically significant process is largely absent from contemporary ice and snow tourism narratives and practices.
Historical phenomena—such as the popularity of Fancy- dress Skating in early 20th-century North China, which embodied Sino-Western cultural collisions in public entertainment, and the early dissemination and localization of ice hockey in China—have not been systematically documented, interpreted, or revitalized. The neglect of this modern historical epoch creates a narrative rupture between ancient and contemporary ice and snow culture, preventing tourists from understanding the full evolutionary trajectory of ice and snow sports in China. More importantly, it represents a missed opportunity to leverage this unique history of East-West dialogue to develop culturally rich tourism IPs with international resonance.

4 Sustainable ice-snow tourism: A cultural-element approach

In response to the core challenges identified above—such as superficial cultural understanding, absence of traditional techniques and activities, blurred regional characteristics, and fractured historical continuity—it is essential to establish systematic, innovative, and localized practical pathways. These pathways should focus on deeply excavating, revitalizing, and creatively transforming ice and snow traditional cultural elements to promote the high-quality and sustainable development of ice and snow sports tourism. The specific pathways are as follows:

4.1 Constructing a deep cultural narrative system

To overcome superficial cultural interpretation and homogenized development paths, it is essential to strengthen the in-depth excavation of ice and snow cultural elements and construct a comprehensive narrative system. First, institutional support should be enhanced through coordinated policy, dedicated funding, and talent cultivation to advance fundamental theoretical research. Specialized research funds should be established, and multidisciplinary teams (spanning history, archaeology, ethnology, sports science, and linguistics) should be organized to systematically uncover, compile, and interpret ice and snow cultural information scattered across various historical texts, local records, personal accounts, rock paintings, minority ethnic literature, and even oral histories. Special attention should be given to overcoming linguistic and documentary barriers through collaboration with minority-language scholars to translate and interpret relevant materials. Research outcomes should be transformed into an open-access “Digital Resource Repository of Chinese Ice and Snow Culture”, thereby providing a robust academic foundation for tourism product development.
On this basis, thematic, scenario-based, and narrative-driven ice and snow cultural tourism routes should be developed according to regional cultural DNA rather than replicated templates. Examples include an “Altay Ten-Thousand-Year Skiing Origins Discovery Tour” that deeply integrates rock art interpretation, ancient skiing technique experiences, and nomadic cultural narratives; a “Qing Dynasty Ice-skating Ceremony and Imperial Ice and Snow Culture Experience Tour” that recreates the ceremonial, military, and artistic dimensions of ice play within historical settings such as the Forbidden City and Beihai Park; and a “Northeast Ice and Snow Fishing and Hunting Ethnic Ecological Wisdom Tour” that incorporates the winter fishing and hunting traditions and ice and snow tools of Northeast China. Through immersive exhibitions, expert-guided interpretation, contextual reenactments, and participatory workshops, fragmented cultural knowledge can be transformed into coherent, emotionally engaging, and deeply immersive tourism experiences.

4.2 Driving heritage innovation to create a unique cultural IP portfolio

To address the widespread absence and distortion of traditional activities, it is essential to establish an effective mechanism for integrating traditional ice and snow culture with modern tourism development. Researchers should scientifically restore and innovatively develop traditional ice and snow sports and recreational activities, ensuring their cultural authenticity while enhancing their relevance for contemporary audiences.
Despite some items having been integrated into modern tourism destinations (e.g., ice beds/cars, dog sleds), the overall development status remains inadequate, with many activities experiencing distortion or alienation.
Accordingly, specialized expert teams should conduct rigorous authenticity research on activities listed in Table 2, examining historical documents, archaeological findings, and material artifacts to clarify their original rules, forms, and cultural meanings. The development process should adhere to the principle of “preserving both the essence and form while adapting the past for contemporary use: Authentic restorations can be performed in culturally protected areas or museum settings, such as Ice-skating performances reconstructed strictly according to Qing Dynasty protocols. Simultaneously, innovative transformations should be promoted to satisfy modern aesthetic preferences, safety standards, and participatory tourism needs.
Table 2 Recommended traditional snow and ice sports and amusement programmes
Project Historical sources Forms of transformation Applicable conditions
Ice bed/car No later than the Northern Song Dynasty, it appeared on the Song-Liao border and developed rapidly in the northern region, especially in northern China, during the Yuan, Ming, Qing, and the Republic of China periods, with an increasing richness of forms and project connotations Participatory activities Any river or lake basin in the northern region that has winter freezes
Ice race In the late Ming Dynasty, Nurhachu led the eight banners. of Manchu, Mongol, and Han were used to organize the activity Participatory activities Natural or artificial snow and ice environments are available
Dog sled Appeared no later than the Jin Dynasty due to the many dogs pulling and dragging snowmobiles or ice trucks used for transport purposes. It was distributed in the northwest and northeast of China Participatory activities Any northern area with natural snow and ice
Ice Cuju It appeared no later than the Jin Dynasty, and was first noted in the Beijing area as a stone kicking game for children in the north to prevent frostbite on their toes in winter. The game was later transformed into a form of kicking a ball between two teams Participatory activities & Ornamental activity Natural or artificial snow and ice environments are available
Strike the ice Long history, more prevalent in the Northeast Participatory activities & Ornamental activity Natural or artificial snow and ice environments are available
Traditional ice techniques The Ice-skating Ceremony and Palace Ice Frolic Exhibition of the Qing Dynasty was mainly popular in North China, and was a combination of northern acrobatics and ice skills Ornamental activity Natural or artificial snow and ice environments are available
Fancy-dress skating/skiing At the beginning of the 20th century, it was imported from the West, and first appeared in the ports of commerce (mostly dry ice), and then appeared in the ice rinks in Beijing, Tianjin, and Dalian. It was gradually naturalized from the Western characteristics at the beginning, and basically disappeared in the 1950s Participatory activities & Ornamental activity Natural or artificial snow and ice environments are available
For example, manually pulled ice beds can be redesigned as family or group experiential projects that enhance teamwork and social interaction; ice football can be adapted into structured yet recreational ice-based games; and Fancy- dress Skating can encourage participants to design costumes that integrate contemporary themes, popular culture, or personal narratives, thereby restoring both the expressive and creative dimensions of these activities. Furthermore, establishing an innovation incubation platform for traditional ice and snow techniques can fund collaborations between designers and intangible cultural heritage bearers, incorporating traditional craftsmanship, such as fur skis or ice lantern carving, into modern tourism products, souvenirs, and artistic installations, thereby creating unique cultural IP assets.

4.3 Promoting regional identities via differentiated “One Region, One Product” development

To counteract the dilution of regional cultural characteristics and the hollowing-out of tourism brands, development must be region-specific and oriented toward the deep integration of culture, sports, and tourism. Cultural and tourism departments in each region should clearly define and promote the cultural identifiers to guide planning and prevent indiscriminate replication of successful models elsewhere.
Regions should also pursue “ice and snow culture +” integrated development models, combining local traditions, festivals, and environmental features with tourism and sports offerings. For instance:
(1) Northeast China: Integrate ethnic ice and snow activities (e.g., Manchu snow walking and ice running, Xibo archery) with local New Year customs to create immersive ethnic ice and snow festivals.
(2) Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region: Utilize historical architectural complexes to reconstruct imperial ice-skating events and Qing Dynasty ceremonial activities.
(3) Xinjiang: Combine skiing experiences with Silk Road culture and grassland nomadic traditions.
(4) The focus should be on integrating traditional culture across the entire tourism chain, including food, accommodation, transportation, sightseeing, shopping, and entertainment. This approach can create a comprehensive, immersive experience comprising characteristic homestays, thematic dining, cultural workshops, sports and leisure activities, and creative consumption, ultimately establishing a replicable competitive advantage for the region.

4.4 Revitalizing Sino-Western integration history for deeper dialogue

To address the fractured historical continuity, the Sino- Western cultural exchanges in ice and snow sports from the late Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China must be systematically documented and revitalized. This requires heritage identification, archival research, and preservation of key sites, events, figures, and artifacts (e.g., early ice rinks in Tianjin concessions, Beihai Park in Beijing, early skating clubs in Harbin).
Representative tangible and intangible heritage should also be identified and preserved. Permanent thematic exhibitions and educational platforms should be established to demonstrate the transformation of Chinese ice and snow culture, illustrating how traditional practices absorbed, adapted, and innovated Western techniques while retaining local characteristics. Additionally, modern interpretive experiences can be created. For example, “historically inspired Fancy-dress Skating carnivals” could be hosted in historical districts such as Tianjin, allowing participants to reinterpret Sino-Western fusion costumes and performances creatively. Educational programs such as “Time-Travel Journey of Modern Chinese Ice and Snow Sports” can use role-playing and archival engagement to educate young audiences. These measures not only enrich the cultural layers of tourism products but also enhance the international visibility and soft power of Chinese ice and snow culture.

5 Discussion

This study systematically examines the intrinsic characteristics, practical challenges, and development pathways through which traditional ice and snow cultural elements empower the sustainable development of sports tourism. Thus, it broadens the theoretical horizon of research on ice and snow sports tourism. This study not only addresses the macro-level value of traditional culture but also focuses on the classification and transformative application of specific cultural elements. By proposing a curated list of traditional ice and snow recreational sports projects for restoration and development, the study enhances its practical applicability, outperforming existing research.
Nevertheless, several limitations should be acknowledged. 1) Due to the fragmented nature of historical records and the challenges associated with interpreting multilingual historical documents, the exploration of traditional ice and snow culture among certain ethnic minorities remains insufficient. 2) The study relies primarily on documentary research and logical analysis, lacking field investigations and empirical validation in typical tourism destinations. Consequently, the proposed development pathways require further testing to verify their effectiveness in specific tourism contexts. 3) The mechanisms underlying the economic value transformation of traditional ice and snow cultural elements are not adequately explained, and how to quantitatively assess their contribution to tourism consumption represents a critical direction for future research.
In the future, further exploration in this field may proceed along the following dimensions. First, interdisciplinary research should be strengthened by integrating theories and methods from history, folklore, sports science, and tourism studies to construct a more systematic database of traditional ice and snow cultural elements. Second, comparative regional studies are needed to analyze the differentiated characteristics of traditional ice and snow culture across regions and their adaptability to tourism development. Third, more research attention should be dedicated to the empowering role of digital technologies, exploring the application of virtual and augmented reality in restoring traditional cultural scenes and developing immersive experiences. Fourth, an evaluation system for traditional ice and snow sports tourism projects should be established to comprehensively measure their sustainable development performance from three perspectives: cultural heritage, visitor experience, and economic benefits. The continuous advancement of these research directions can provide more robust theoretical support and practical guidance for the high-quality development of ice and snow sports tourism.

6 Conclusions

Traditional Chinese ice and snow cultural elements are rich, regionally distinctive, and nationally significant, contributing to the enhancement of cultural heritage (Zhang, 2018). To leverage traditional culture in promoting a leading ice and snow sports nation, literature review and logical analysis methods were employed to examine how these cultural elements can facilitate the sustainable development of ice and snow sports tourism.
Findings indicates that traditional ice and snow culture empowers sustainable tourism through two main avenues: 1) The ancient system of ice and snow production, daily life, military, sports, and entertainment culture, and 2) The transformation of ice and snow sports culture shaped by the fusion of Chinese and Western influences in modern and contemporary times. Despite this potential, current tourism practices face multiple challenges: homogenized development paths, insufficient integration of traditional activities, underdeveloped regional identities, and fragmented historical narratives.
To address these challenges, the study proposes the following practical measures:
(1) Systematically explore and interpret traditional ice and snow cultural elements to construct a culturally and historically rich narrative framework.
(2) Restore, innovate, and revitalize traditional ice and snow sports and recreational activities, transforming them into contemporary tourism products.
(3) Develop region-specific “ice and snow culture +” models to strengthen local identities and create differentiated, competitive tourism products.
(4) Document and promote historical Sino-Western ice and snow cultural integration to enhance international dialogue and cultural influence.
In conclusion, the sustainable development of ice and snow sports tourism requires the deep exploration, innovative transformation, and integrated application of traditional cultural elements. This approach can overcome current homogenization, facilitate high-quality tourism growth, and reinforce China’s position as a leading nation in ice and snow sports.

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