The launch ceremony for the 3rd China Datong Ice and Snow Festival takes place at the Wanlong Baideng Mountain Ski Resort. [Photo/Datong Daily]

The 3rd China Datong Ice and Snow Festival was launched on Dec 13 at the Wanlong Baideng Mountain Ski Resort in Datong city, North China's Shanxi province – to great fanfare and with the reported anticipation by winter sports enthusiasts in particular of the great things to come.

Sponsored by Shanxi Sport Bureau and Datong municipal government, the festival aims to promote the in-depth integration and development of ice and snow tourism, culture, sports, and the education industries in the city and the province.

Promotions for various youth winter sports, skiing and open skating tournaments, and the city's university campus youth ice and snow skating league matches – will be staged during the festival.

In recent years, the China Datong Ice and Snow Festival has become a highly influential and special winter event in Shanxi. It has had a positive effect on the sustainable development of the ice and snow economy, winter sports consumer spending, and the influence of Shanxi and Datong.

With the promotion of the event, ski resorts in the city have received more than 200,000 skiing visits annually.