Changbai Mountain festival promises snow-filled fun

To promote local tourism, Northeast China's Jilin province has rolled out favorable policies and diversified its snow-themed tourism products for holiday-makers.

To fully tap into the resources of the province's Changbai Mountain Reserve, the 3rd Changbai Mountain Powder Snow Festival and the 15th Changbai Mountain Snow Cultural Tourism Festival began in November will end on April 30.

"The festival features snow-themed trips, snow and ice sporting events and another 20 winter-themed activities", said Chen Honggang, deputy director of the Jilin Province Department of Culture and Tourism, at the opening ceremony of the 3rd Changbai Mountain Powder Snow Festival in Beijing.

Although the mountain's world-class pillowy soft and deep powder snow is the one of the major attractions for vacationers, there's more than snow to the natural reserve. Apart from "surfing" on the powder-like snow slopes, visitors also can attend an auto race and winter marathon, join the mountain-climbing competition or stick their toes into the volcanic hot spring.

Geng Deyong, director of the Tourism and Culture Department of the Jilin Changbai Mountain Protection Development Management Committee, said the committee is working with authorities in adjacent areas of Changbai Mountain to establish close-chain tourism and to build a tourism economy radiating from the Changbai Mountain area to the greater area of northeastern China.

The 3rd Changbai Mountain Powder Snow Festival and the 15th Changbai Mountain Snow Cultural Tourism Festival are co-hosted by the Jilin Changbai Mountain Protection Development Management Committee, Jilin Province Department of Culture and Tourism and Hangzhou Municipal People's Government.