Home » TRAVEL EVENT NEWS » China: Snow Vacation Boosting Winter Tourism And Elevating Paid Leave In Jilin And Xinjiang Published on
December 2, 2025The inaugural “snow vacation” for students across various provinces in China’s northeastern and northwestern regions has been enacted, a policy measure that has successfully garnered significant attention online. The pilot program, primarily targeting students within the framework of compulsory education, has been strategically launched by regional governments. It is understood by industry specialists that this initiative is designed to effectively boost winter tourism consumption while simultaneously encouraging gradual, yet fundamental, improvements to the nation’s overall paid leave system.Specific locales, such as Altay in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, have been identified as key beneficiaries and participants in this groundbreaking social experiment. Furthermore, Jilin province, known historically for its extensive snowfall and winter sports infrastructure, has also adopted the measure. The overall economic and social implications of this novel approach, characterized by the provision of dedicated recreational time during peak winter conditions, are currently being closely monitored, and its potential for national adoption is being carefully considered.Advertisement Geographical Implementation and Policy SchedulingThe policy’s implementation has been meticulous, with specific geographic areas being prioritized based on their winter tourism potential and existing infrastructure. In the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, which is widely recognized as one of China’s most frequented destinations during the colder months, the framework was applied to students in primary and junior high schools. A dedicated break period, spanning from Monday to Friday, was scheduled for students in Altay. This action followed a prior, similar announcement made in Urumqi, the regional capital, where a nine-day respite was scheduled to commence from a preceding Saturday and conclude on December 7.The precise scheduling of these breaks was calibrated to maximize the overlap with the peak season for winter sports and family leisure activities. The coordination of these schedules across neighboring jurisdictions was deemed essential for optimizing the regional tourism flows and ensuring a synergistic effect on local economies. The intent was clearly established: to transform what might have traditionally been a slow period into a vibran …
