Industry News
When you think of skiing destinations, places like Europe, North America, and Japan come to mind. But thanks to new passport policies, China is becoming a top choice among Australians.
At Sydney’s Snow Travel Expo, crowds gathered around China’s pavilion, expressing interest in the country’s many northeast and northwest ski areas. The reason? In late 2025, China added Australia to its visa-free list, meaning Australian passport holders can enter mainland China without a visa for up to 30 days. Now, Australians may be reshaping their holiday plans and heading for Chinese ski resorts.
After the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, the nation experienced a winter sports boom that rapidly grew its domestic ski industry. The 2024-25 China Ski Industry White Paper cited a 12.9% increase in skier visits, with 26.1 million skier visits in 2024-25. This increase rivals that of the U.S. ski industry’s last decade. The wake of the 2022 games also led to major infrastructure upgrades. As a country with limited natural snowfall, state-sponsored programs began to study snowmaking and snow storage. The number of snow guns in China grew exponentially as it prepped for the Olympics. The number of outdoor ski venues also grew from 570 in 2015 to 876 in 2022, according to an Olympics.com article.
The addition of Australia to China’s visa-free list makes traveling to China much easier and smoother for Aussie travelers, who can forget about visa fees, consulate appointments, and the application process altogether. Additionally, flights from Australia to China are generally much cheaper than flights to traditional ski destinations like Europe. For Australians looking to save money and time on a ski vacation, China has become a solid, viable option.
Traveling within China has also become more streamlined and futuristic. Booking and paying are all done on smartphone apps, making travel planning simple and easily accessible.
China has a wide variety of resorts that offer something for all interests. Resorts like Altay in northwestern China are famous for their powder and backcountry terrain. Other resorts, like Changbaishan, offer more beginner-friendly terrain and night skiing. The diversity of China’s ski resorts has helped garner interest from tourists.
In addition to skiing, visiting China offers cultural experiences that traditional ski destinations do not have. Tours of the Great Wall, hot spring visits, and food experiences differentiate it from other popular ski hot spots. High-speed transportation systems also make it easy to travel from urban centers like Beijing to ski areas. For Australians looking to do more than ski, China offers a lot.
With approximately 1.2 million Australians who participate in either skiing or snowboarding, ski tourism is an opportunity for China to continue to grow its ski industry. By visiting Chinese resorts, tourists can boost local Chinese resort economies as the country continues to upgrade its skiing infrastructure.
While China may seem like an unfamiliar destination for skiing, for Australians, that seems to be quickly changing.
