On the morning of December 18, sunlight pierced through the clouds over Mount Gongga, casting the spectacular 'Golden Mountain at Sunrise' phenomenon on the viewing platform of Wanggangping Scenic Area. Li Xinyi, a photography enthusiast from Chengdu, captured the moment with her camera and said, 'Mount Gongga after snowfall appears sacred and majestic; combined with sea-of-clouds and sunrise, it is truly a paradise for photographers.' This scene vividly illustrates how Ya'an leverages its dual engines—'Shu Mountains' and 'Warm Snow'—to transform winter's 'cold resources' into a thriving tourism-driven 'hot economy.'

From December 17 to 18, a press delegation for the 2025 'Winter Tour of Sichuan' research trip visited Shimian County in Ya'an to explore how the region integrates 'ice and snow plus' as its core strategy, combining the resources of 'Shu Mountains' and 'Warm Snow' to develop distinctive winter tourism practices.

Caoke Hot Spring Town

'Shu Mountains' Attract Attention: Ice-and-Snow Landscapes Drive New Outdoor Experiences

Wanggangping Scenic Area, located just 30 kilometers from the main peak of Mount Gongga, offers one of the best vantage points for viewing the mountain. According to Liu Sixiang, general manager of the scenic area, situated at an elevation of over 3,000 meters, the site not only boasts breathtaking alpine scenery but also hosts Ya'an's first high-altitude ski resort. The resort features four professional ski runs, a 100,000-square-meter snow-play zone, and seven snow-based recreational activities, equipped with more than 1,200 sets of imported skiing gear, capable of accommodating up to 6,000 visitors simultaneously. It has become a key ice-and-snow sports destination near Chengdu.

In recent years, Wanggangping has aimed to establish itself as a world-class ecotourism destination centered on primeval forests, introducing diverse offerings such as hiking, low-altitude sightseeing flights, and mountain sports. Its hiking trails wind deep into untouched forests, while aerial tours provide panoramic views of Mount Gongga. The area has been designated a Provincial Sports Tourism Demonstration Base and named a 'Best Stargazing Spot', forming a winter tourism product system centered on 'ice-and-snow sightseeing plus outdoor activities'.

'Warm Snow' Empowers: Hot Springs and Wellness Fuel New Integration of Culture and Tourism

While capitalizing on the appeal of the 'Shu Mountains', Shimian County has also tapped into its hot spring and abundant sunshine resources, positioning the 'Warm Snow' industry as another pillar of winter tourism. Caokē Hot Spring Town serves as a prime example.

Wanggangping Ski Resort

Hot spring pools are scattered throughout the town, allowing visitors to soak and enjoy winter relaxation. Ren Junxiong, marketing planning manager of the project, explained that the development integrates resources from Mount Gongga, Tianwan River, and hot springs to create a comprehensive tourism hub focused on leisure, vacationing, wellness, and cultural dissemination. By incorporating local cultural elements, the project has generated over 100 jobs and stimulated integrated development across agriculture, culture, and tourism, becoming a vital engine for regional cultural-tourism integration and rural revitalization.

Lan Jiawei, an official from Shimian County's Bureau of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, stated that the county has innovatively launched an 'ice and snow plus hot springs' model, employing a mechanism of 'government facilitation and enterprise implementation' to build the brand 'Home of Panda Reintroduction · Hot Spring Barbecue City.' Centered on the unique experiences of 'viewing Mount Gongga, soaking in hot springs, recalling the Long March, and savoring barbecue,' the initiative aims to upgrade the quality and consumption levels of winter tourism. 'We will continue enriching our product offerings and strengthening brand promotion to transform 'cold resources' into a 'hot economy,' injecting new vitality into the 'Winter Tour of Sichuan' campaign,' she added.

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