Home >  News

Ice, snow event turns Yangquan into winter tourist hotspot

Updated: 2020-01-16

Excitement came to town as the fourth Guguan Ice and Snow Festival kicked off in Pingding county, Yangquan city in Shanxi province on Jan 14 -- with organizers saying it will run to Feb 20. 

The festival venue, covering more than 7,000 square meters, is divided into sightseeing area and entertainment area. 

The ice waterfall in the sightseeing area has been widened by more than 40 meters compared with previous years. Two 20-meter-long colorful dragon lanterns made by a local Xinguan village is a favorite among visitors.

In the entertainment area, the snow slides have each been extended by 20 meters, with a total length of more than 100 meters. There are three ice vehicles in the area for visitors to try out. 

Xinguan village has also prepared some special dishes for tourists to taste. 

In terms of security, Guguan Pass scenic area, a section of the Great Wall, has further strengthened its ability to handle emergencies by increasing the number of security personnel. 

In recent years, Niangziguan town -- where Guguan Pass scenic area sits -- has been developing winter tourism projects to boost off-season tourism, according to Zhu Jiming, Party chief of the town. 

The annual Guguan Ice and Snow Festival, which was first launched in 2017, has helped turn the winter into tourism season in the region and created jobs for locals. 

In recent years, the event has received more than 40,000 tourists and generated more than 600,000 yuan ($87,078) in tourism revenue.