The metamorphosis of Snow Town: How ice and snow lifted the black soil's 'prosperity scorecard'
Follow Xi, a video column produced by People's Daily Online, has launched the documentary series 'China's Answer to Global Poverty Reduction', chronicling China's efforts to reduce poverty through development — tailored, in each place, to local conditions.
Snow Town, a region in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, has experienced a remarkable transformation thanks to ice and snow tourism. This shift has revitalized the local economy and contributed to rural revitalization in the area.
Once a humble workforce of forestry workers, residents like Zhang Wei have found new ways to utilize the region's abundant snowfall and ice, turning them into valuable assets. In the 1980s, the picturesque snowscapes of Shuangfeng Forest Farm drew attention, and the name "Snow Town" gained recognition beyond the region.
In 2014, commercial logging was halted to protect the ecosystem, prompting workers to diversify their livelihoods. Many transitioned to roles in the burgeoning ice and snow industry, including Zhang, who now contributes to the creation of ice and snow sculptures, parade floats, and scenic area safety management. Others have opened family guesthouses or operate sightseeing vehicles.
This ice and snow economy has become a driving force for local prosperity. Today, Snow Town boasts over 200 businesses, welcomes more than 800,000 visitors annually during winter, and employs more than 1,000 former forestry workers along with an additional 5,500 in the scenic area.
President Xi Jinping has recognized the potential of ice and snow resources, stating that they can help people get rich and drive rural revitalization. The transformation of Snow Town exemplifies China's green poverty alleviation efforts, showcasing how natural resources can be leveraged sustainably while prioritizing ecological protection and transforming scenic beauty into improved livelihoods.
The harsh cold and heavy snowfalls that once posed challenges have become valuable resources for economic growth. Through hard work and innovation, residents like Zhang Wei have turned the forest's "wooden bowl" into a "treasure basin," allowing the black soil to gather strength from the ice and snow. This has brought hope to the region and contributed to China's broader poverty alleviation story, demonstrating a global model of integrating green development, rural revitalization, and poverty reduction.
Written by urgent.news from IOL's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
