Youth skiers train at the Heilongjiang Yabuli Sports Training Base. (Source: Heilongjiang Daily)

Nestled within the expansive Changbai Mountain range in China's northernmost province, Heilongjiang, lies Yabuli, a small town intrinsically linked to ice and snow.

Situated approximately 200 kilometers from the provincial capital of Harbin, Yabuli has evolved beyond a top-level global training hub for winter athletes into a pioneering model that seamlessly integrates experiential ice-snow tourism, captivating the international winter sports community with its distinctive allure.

A global stage for winter sports training

Established in 1974, the Heilongjiang Yabuli Sports Training Base is one of China's earliest and most comprehensive facilities dedicated to winter sports. The place boasts an exceptional climate profile because of its high-quality snow and a seasonal retention period of approximately 170 days per year.

With a cumulative ski trail network spanning 60 kilometers, the base boasts many International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS)-certified venues for alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, and freestyle aerials, all of which meet the exacting standards required by international top-tier competitions. It has a distinguished history of hosting prestigious events, including both the 3rd and 9th Asian Winter Games, 2009 Harbin Winter Universiade, and multiple FIS Snowboard World Cups and World Championships.

The seasoned history of hosting events solidifies Yabuli's status as one of the nation's top training centers and a world-renowned skiing destination. While serving as a main training ground for China's different national winter sports teams, it also attracts teams from Russia, South Korea, and Japan, and beyond.

"Winter sports teams from neighboring nations, such as Japan and South Korea, consistently utilize our facilities for pre-competition conditioning. In the lead-up to major global events, we even receive inquiries from teams based in equatorial regions like Thailand," said Wang Pengcheng, Deputy Director of the base. "Our FIS certification, proven track record of hosting diverse international events, and comparatively favorable training costs make Yabuli an attractive and logical choice for teams across Asian and further afield."

Giant panda in Yabuli’s Panda House. (Photo: Zi Jianfei)

Cultural tourism integration: surprises beyond ice and snow

Transcending its identity as a professional training ground, Yabuli has adeptly harnessed its natural wintriness to cultivate a rich tapestry of cultural and tourism experiences. The most emblematic of these initiatives is the Yabuli Panda House.

It is the northernmost panda habitat in China, and is home to two giant pandas, "Sijia" and "Youyou." Their successful acclimatization to Yabuli's colder climate serves a dual purpose: delighting visitors and providing critical data for scientific research on panda resilience in sub-frigid environments.

"I actually came here to experience Heilongjiang's legendary snowscapes, but seeing these pandas has ended up being the best memory of this trip. I honestly thought that pandas could only thrive in warmer climates," shared Luola Cheng, an 11-year-old visitor from Singapore.

Yabuli is also effectively boosting tourism consumption during the non-snow season by hosting a variety of summer events and offering distinctive experiences. In 2025, the region hosted a series of events, including a stargazing camping festival and running races.

"This summer, tourist arrivals in Yabuli increased by 14% compared to previous years, indicating that the area is gradually overcoming the long-standing challenge of 'one busy season followed by three quiet ones," said Liu Guangpeng, Deputy General Manager of Harbin Yabuli Tourism Investment Group.

International exchange and future prospects

Yabuli is increasingly emerging as a magnet for international professionals, leveraging its distinctive icy and snowy landscapes alongside a globally oriented development framework. Ski instructors from countries such as Russia have established long-term engagements here. They contribute not only advanced expertise in winter sports industries but also facilitate meaningful cross-cultural dialogue and professional synergy.

"I believe China is advancing at a remarkable pace in the domain of winter sports. According to my observation, there is a strategic effort to recruit international specialists, not merely to enhance performance in technical disciplines but to elevate standards across the entire spectrum of winter sports," said Andrei Anisimov, a retired Russian professional athlete currently coaching in Yabuli.

The town has also solidified its status as a key destination for international site visits and exchanges within the ice and snow industry.

"A technical team from Saudi Arabia, which will host the 10th Asian Winter Games, visited us to 'draw from our experience' not long ago. They came to learn about venue construction, management, and maintenance for international competitions," noted Wang.

Through such meticulous and global practices, Yabuli is steadily evolving into a genuine convergence point for talent within the worldwide ice and snow sector.