Ice-Snow Economy Becomes New Growth Driver for China
General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that developing the ice and snow economy should be a new growth point, promoting the full industrial chain development of ice and snow sports, ice and snow culture, ice and snow equipment, and ice and snow tourism. This winter, various regions have continued to promote the deep integration of ice and snow with culture and tourism, sports, and technology, transforming "cold resources" into "hot industries," and injecting new momentum into high-quality development. Currently, the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin are in full swing. On the fields, athletes from various countries are fiercely competing; off the fields, tourists from across the country are flocking to Heilongjiang, boosting the continuous rise of ice and snow tourism. Mohe, Heilongjiang, located at the northernmost tip of China, has seen a continuous increase in popularity and visitors since winter began. A rich variety of ice and snow activities has captivated tourists, also stimulating industries such as accommodation and dining. Shi Ruijuan, a villager in Beiji Village, operates a guesthouse that has been fully booked, and her newly opened branch this year has received an excellent market response. In September 2023, General Secretary Xi Jinping visited Beiji Village, had cordial exchanges with the villagers, and urged local party committees and governments to provide policy support so that the scenic northern border and ice and snow resources would bring continuous income to the villagers. Bearing the General Secretary's instructions in mind, Mohe has intensified efforts to explore its unique resources, innovatively created ice and snow scenes, and attracted talent to return and external businesses to invest and establish. Ice and snow are also invaluable assets. General Secretary Xi Jinping has always paid attention to the development of the ice and snow industry. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, he has made several important directives, emphasizing the development of the ice and snow economy as a new growth point, promoting the full industrial chain development of ice and snow sports, ice and snow culture, ice and snow equipment, and ice and snow tourism. The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China pointed out the need to improve the long-term mechanism for expanding consumption. The Central Economic Work Conference, when deploying key tasks for 2025, explicitly proposed actively developing the ice and snow economy. This ice and snow season, various regions have successively introduced policies to support the development of the ice and snow economy, leading to the emergence of a series of "ice and snow+" products. From traditional skiing and skating to emerging ice and snow photography and ice and snow study tours, ice and snow tourism is becoming richer and more diverse in both products and services. During this year's Spring Festival, Beijing issued 30,000 ice and snow consumption vouchers and launched characteristic activities such as an ice and snow music festival, an ice and snow parent-child challenge, and a New Year's ice and snow light show. In Altay, Xinjiang, people experienced immersive tours to learn about the history of the origin of skiing and inherit ice and snow culture. By exploring ice and snow intangible cultural heritage, building ice and snow cultural museums, and supporting ice and snow-themed artistic creations, as ice and snow culture flourishes, ice and snow sports continue to thrive. In Jilin, 75 ski resorts underwent renovation and upgrade of their software and hardware facilities. The number of open slopes at Beidahu Ski Resort increased from 64 to 74, and the slope area increased by 15%, with an estimated visitor reception of over 1 million people this ski season. In Shanghai, many commercial districts and streets integrated ice and snow sports experiences; a 1,000-square-meter outdoor ice rink built along the Huangpu River became an instant hit upon its debut. In Hubei, indoor and outdoor activities were equally exciting, with fun skiing and snow entertainment activities constantly being updated; from January to February this year, the province's ski hotel bookings increased by approximately 83% year-on-year. The booming ice and snow economy has promoted the integrated innovation of ice and snow equipment manufacturing. In Henan, locally manufactured ice and snow equipment already accounts for 40% of the national market. Currently, China has formed an ice and snow equipment and materials product system comprising 15 major categories, essentially covering the entire industrial chain from head to toe, from individuals to venues, and from competitive sports to mass participation. At present, China's ice and snow industry exhibits characteristics such as expanding market size and diversified consumer demand. China is accelerating the construction of a modern ice and snow industry system, striving to reach a total ice and snow economy scale of 1.5 trillion yuan by 2030.
Trade-Ins Effectively Boost Consumer Market Vitality
The latest monitoring and dispatch data from the National Development and Reform Commission shows that during the Spring Festival period (January 28 – February 4), sales of digital products, home appliances and furnishings, and trade-in cars were approximately 14.1 billion yuan, 10.5 billion yuan, and 6.6 billion yuan, respectively, with a total sales volume of 8.6 million units (sets). Among these, sales of mobile phones and other digital products accounted for approximately 4.5 million units, with their sales volume share (52%) and sales value share (45%) being the highest. Regionally, Beijing, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Henan, Hubei, and Guangdong all had trade-in sales exceeding 1.5 billion yuan, ranking among the top in the country. The central government allocated the first batch of 81 billion yuan in ultra-long-term special national bonds, effectively stimulating consumer market vitality. Currently, all 31 provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the central government) nationwide have fully launched the 2025 consumer goods trade-in program.
China's SME Development Index Sees Slight Rise in January
Data released by the China Association of Small and Medium Enterprises today (February 11) shows that China's Small and Medium Enterprise Development Index for January was 89.0, up 0.1 points from December last year. Among the eight surveyed industries, the market index rose for six industries, including social services; the input index rose for seven industries, including information transmission and software. This indicates that market demand is steadily improving, driving improvements in enterprise production, sales, and services, and strengthening enterprises' investment willingness. In particular, the booming tourism consumption and box office during the Spring Festival holiday boosted production for small and medium enterprises in many sectors. In January, nearly 60% of small and medium-sized enterprises had an operating rate of over 75%. The China Association of Small and Medium Enterprises believes that with the recent acceleration of major projects in various regions, market demand for small and medium enterprises will further rebound; continuous expansion of consumption and investment will also promote more active production and operation of small and medium enterprises.
Seizing Agricultural Seasons, Regions Enhance Spring Field Management
Various regions are seizing the agricultural season to strengthen spring field management and solidify the foundation for stable wheat yields. Currently, winter wheat growth conditions across the country are better than usual. After the beginning of spring, Henan's 85 million mu of winter wheat is successively entering the green-up stage from south to north, which is also a peak period for water and fertilizer demand and a critical period for yield formation. The province's 18 wheat expert guidance groups, in conjunction with local agricultural technicians, are going deep into the fields to "diagnose and consult," providing precise "growth prescriptions" for wheat through classified management methods such as "supplementing fertilizer for weak seedlings and controlling growth for vigorous seedlings," ensuring stable summer grain production and increased income. Currently, 87% of the province's overwintering wheat seedlings are classified as first or second grade, which is better than the same period in previous years. Anhui's over 43 million mu of wheat are growing well. In the wheat planting base in Xiyang Town, Bozhou, machines for green-up and top-dressing of wheat are shuttling back and forth, carrying out fertilization operations; in the air, Beidou plant protection drones are spraying pesticides according to pre-set routes, saving time, effort, and increasing efficiency. Hebei is safeguarding wheat production and income increases through measures such as promoting new water-saving irrigation technologies. In Feixiang District, Handan City, reporters observed micro-spray irrigation pipes distributed along the field ridges, like "blood vessels" laid for the wheat fields, precisely delivering water and fertilizer to the greening winter wheat. Such micro-spray irrigation costs only about half of the traditional flood irrigation. The local area has also established teams of science and technology special commissioners and Party member volunteers, dividing areas to maintain and inspect spring irrigation equipment and provide technical services. Targeting the insufficient soil moisture in some areas, Jiangsu has formulated field management technical opinions. Agricultural experts and technicians are going into the fields to guide farmers in supplementing water to improve soil moisture, applying fertilizer according to seedling conditions, and promoting the conversion of weak seedlings to strong ones, with seedling conditions continuously improving. At the same time, Jiangsu has introduced 19 policies to support grain and oil production, fully ensuring the orderly progress of spring agricultural production.
New Farmers of Xihaigu
Xiji County in Ningxia, part of the Xihaigu region, has undergone tremendous changes in the process of comprehensively promoting rural revitalization. Today (February 11), in "New Year's Journey to the Grassroots," we visit Xiji County to meet a group of "new farmers" who have returned to the countryside and taken root in the fertile land, and see what they are busy with. Currently, potatoes from Xiji, Ningxia, are in hot demand. The young man shooting a short video right now is Ma Liang, and he is promoting the latest batch of harvested potatoes with villagers. Ma Liang, born in the 1980s, is a native of Xihaigu. Xiji County, located in the southern mountainous area of Ningxia, is one of China's most impoverished regions. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, after a series of targeted poverty alleviation measures such as relocation and terracing of sloped land, the area has not only successfully lifted itself out of poverty but has also developed many characteristic industries based on local conditions. However, how to sell these characteristic agricultural products? In 2020, Ma Liang met fellow villager Ma Haodong. One studied English, the other was a director, and they hit it off, sparking the idea of returning home to start a business. Back in Xihaigu, the two planned to sell local products for their hometown by shooting short videos. But after shooting dozens of videos, the results were not good. At this point, Ma Liang proposed, could they leverage their university majors to shoot something different? So, combining English with local specialties in a "rustic yet modern" way, they started a "promotional meeting" in a pumpkin field. In just one week, this short video garnered over 15 million views, and 120,000 catties of Beibei pumpkins were in short supply. This success greatly boosted the team's confidence, and young people and villagers from the surrounding areas joined in, some responsible for production, others for promotion. From pumpkins to potatoes, from apples to red apricots, over 370,000 catties of local specialties were sold online in half a year. To support "new farmers" returning to their hometowns to start businesses, the local government also actively coordinated to provide office and logistics facilities. Last year, the village also built a processing factory for oil cakes and fried dough twists, bringing employment to more villagers. Ma Liang said that increasingly, "new farmers" like him are returning to the countryside, turning the internet into a "new track," technology into "new farm tools," and services into "new farm work." More than 6,000 young people have returned to Xiji County to start businesses. On the grand stage of rural revitalization, they inject freshness and new vitality into rural life. Last year, Guyuan City, where Xiji County is located, achieved online retail sales of 2.29 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 14.8%, with agricultural products accounting for approximately a quarter of this.
Regions Hold Diverse Activities to Celebrate Lantern Festival
As the Lantern Festival approaches, various regions are adorned with lanterns and hosting diverse activities to welcome the festive occasion. In Huzhou, Zhejiang, a grand Spring Festival street parade is lively underway, with intangible cultural heritage and folk performances offering citizens and tourists a joyous and festive cultural feast; in Wuan, Hebei, majestic dragon and lion dances and lively Shehuo performances take turns, showcasing the charm of folk art; in Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu, at an intangible cultural heritage market, citizens personally experience traditional crafts such as lacquer fans and velvet flowers, feeling the strong festive atmosphere; on the streets of Foshan, Guangdong, tens of thousands of lanterns are hung high, and many citizens and tourists walk across Tongji Bridge to express their good wishes. Celebrating the Lantern Festival, admiring lanterns. In Changchun, Jilin, the Spring Festival Ice and Snow Lantern Fair ingeniously combines traditional lanterns with ice and snow, presenting a uniquely charming light and shadow show; in Putian, Fujian, over 2,000 households carry bench lanterns, forming long dragons that parade along the streets, sending blessings to people. Welcoming the festival, making tangyuan and rolling yuanxiao. In Kunming, Yunnan, the four-joy tangyuan with four fillings not only offers rich flavors but also carries the beautiful meanings of fortune, prosperity, longevity, and happiness; in Hebi, Henan, traditional handmade stone-ground yuanxiao are round and plump, symbolizing reunion; in Loudi, Hunan, the citizens' square is decorated as a festive stage, where citizens and tourists guess lantern riddles, feeling the strong festive atmosphere. Celebrating the Lantern Festival. In military camps across the country, officers and soldiers perform lion dances and make lanterns, organizing diverse activities to make this festival both a testament to their dedication and a time of joy and warmth.
Party Flag Flies High at Grassroots Frontline: Day and Night Efforts in Rescue and Search, Warmly Guarding Disaster-Stricken People
After the landslide in Junlian County, Yibin City, Sichuan, fire and rescue personnel formed a Party member commando team, bravely heading into danger, rushing to the scene for rescue at the first possible moment, and racing against time to search for missing persons. Grassroots Party members and cadres in the disaster area bravely led the efforts, meticulously arranging the resettlement of affected people, and protecting them with warmth. This was a harrowing scene during the search process: Instructor Xu Hua was leading 10 firefighters in a search in the core area of the landslide when another landslide occurred, with rocks rolling down consecutively. Such dangerous situations frequently occurred during the search. To ensure the safety of search and rescue operations, the on-site command center divided the rescue area into 12 grids. Each grid not only had search personnel but also safety officers responsible for observation and early warning. Whenever the danger signal was lifted, Xu Hua and his teammates would immediately return to the scene to intensify the search. In the race against time, in addition to relying on search and rescue dogs and life detectors, Xu Hua and his team often had to manually move rocks and carefully sift through debris. The team led by Xu Hua consists of 19 people, all experienced rescue elites, and more than half are Communist Party members. After the landslide, they arrived at the scene immediately and carried out rescue operations in the muddy, rainy conditions, trudging through the difficult terrain. As one of the earliest arriving rescue forces, from the 8th until now, they have worked more than 12 hours a day, completing searches in an area of 9,200 square meters. While search and rescue efforts were ongoing, the resettlement of affected people also continued. At the Junlian No. 2 Middle School resettlement site in Mu'ai Town, Zheng Qin, Party Branch Secretary of Shilin Village, volunteered to take care of the daily lives of the affected people. These days, she has been busy with volunteers registering supplies, preparing three meals a day, and addressing the urgent needs of the affected people. A 10-month-old baby in one of the families at the resettlement site was short on diapers and formula. It was already late at night, so Zheng Qin immediately went with volunteers to search for and purchase supplies nearby, but unfortunately, several stores they found were already closed. Early the next morning, Zheng Qin waited for the stores to open and finally bought formula and diapers for the child. The baby comfortably drank formula while lying in her grandmother's arms.
Innovation Empowers a "Green" Asian Winter Games
The excitement at the 9th Harbin Asian Winter Games venues extends beyond competition. The integration of environmental protection and technology has made "green" a distinctive feature of these Games. At the ice venues of this Asian Winter Games, unlike the previous fuel-powered ice resurfacers, new environmentally friendly, energy-efficient, and highly effective electric ice resurfacers have been put into use, busily traversing the venues. "Green" is a major highlight of the venues for these Asian Winter Games. All five ice venues were upgraded using existing facilities, with "energy conservation, environmental protection, and low carbon" as core principles. New technologies, materials, and designs were extensively incorporated in terms of insulation, lighting, and refrigeration. The Yabuli snow sports area of these Asian Winter Games is known as a "green museum" and "natural oxygen bar," boasting excellent natural landscapes and ecological environment. The upgraded facilities of the eight snow competition venues provide a unique experience for athletes from various countries to gallop across the snow.
Harbin 9th Asian Winter Games: China Secures 6 Gold Medals in a Single Day
The 9th Harbin Asian Winter Games entered its fourth competition day since the opening, with a total of 10 gold medals awarded, of which the Chinese team secured 6 gold medals. In the Freestyle Skiing Women's Aerials Synchronized final, Feng Junxi/Wang Xue won the gold medal, while Xu Mengtao/Chen Meiting took the silver. In the Freestyle Skiing Women's Slopestyle final, Liu Mengting, Yang Ruyi, and Han Linshan swept the gold, silver, and bronze medals. In ice events, in the Speed Skating Men's 1000m final, Ning Zhongyan won the gold medal with a time of 1 minute 8.81 seconds, breaking both the Asian and Games records, and Lian Ziwen secured the bronze medal. In the Speed Skating Women's 1000m final, Han Mei and Yin Qi swept the gold and silver medals. In the Speed Skating Men's Team Pursuit final, the Chinese team, composed of Liu Hanbin, Wu Yu, and Hanahati Muxamaiti, won the gold medal. In the Speed Skating Women's Team Pursuit final, the Chinese team, composed of Ahenar Adake, Han Mei, and Yang Binyu, won the gold medal. With this, all speed skating events at these Asian Winter Games have concluded, and the Chinese speed skating team achieved an excellent result of 11 gold, 5 silver, and 5 bronze medals.
Domestic News Snippets
China Implements New Professional Education Teaching Standards The Ministry of Education today (February 11) released 758 new professional education teaching standards, marking the first time that integrated teaching design for secondary vocational, higher vocational (associate degree), and professional undergraduate education has been implemented. These standards are closely aligned with industry and enterprise talent requirements and new job demands under new industries, new business forms, new models, and new technologies, strengthening the application of new educational technologies such as artificial intelligence and virtual simulation, while also emphasizing the cultivation of students' practical skills. New Generation Long March 8 Rocket Variant Successfully Makes First Flight At 5:30 PM today (February 11), China successfully launched the Satellite Internet Low-Orbit Group 02 satellite into orbit from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site using the Long March 8 variant carrier rocket. The satellite successfully entered its predetermined orbit, and the launch mission was a complete success. This marks a new addition to China's new generation of carrier rockets and the entry of the Long March 8 carrier rocket into a new stage of serialized development. Multiple Measures to Support Increased Silver-Haired Tourist Trains Today (February 11), the Ministry of Commerce and 9 other units released the "Action Plan on Increasing Silver-Haired Tourist Trains and Promoting Service Consumption Development," supporting and guiding various business entities to participate in the development and operation of silver-haired tourist trains and special railway lines for tourism, and establishing a quality-oriented, comfortable, and inclusive product system for silver-haired tourist trains. Tesla Shanghai Megapack Factory Officially Starts Production Today (February 11), Tesla's Shanghai Megapack factory officially started production. The factory covers a total area of approximately 200,000 square meters and began construction in May 2024, with an energy storage capacity of nearly 40 GWh. This is Tesla's first Megapack factory outside of the United States and another major investment project for Tesla in China after the Shanghai Gigafactory. Third Ice Run of the Year on the Yellow River's Shandong Section Nearing End The third ice run of the year on the Yellow River's Shandong section is about to end. Starting from February 7, the Yellow River's Shandong section experienced its third ice run of the year, with varying degrees of ice floes appearing along the more than 400-kilometer river section. The largest ice floes reached an area of 50 square meters, and this has continued for 5 days. Cold Air Moves East and South, Bringing Strong Winds, Temperature Drops, and Light Rain/Snow Starting today (February 11), a new wave of cold air will affect the central and eastern regions of China, bringing strong winds, temperature drops, and rain/snow weather. The Central Meteorological Observatory predicts that from today to tomorrow, areas along and north of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River will experience 4-6 level northerly winds, and temperatures in the central and eastern regions will drop by 4-6°C; parts of Northeast China, North China, and western Jianghan will experience light to moderate snow or sleet, while most of Southern China will experience light to moderate rain.
Hamas Delays Release of Next Group of Hostages; Israeli Military Heightens Alert and Deploys More Troops
The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) stated on the 10th that it would postpone the release of detainees, originally scheduled for the 15th. A Hamas spokesperson stated that over the past three weeks, Israel had been observed to violate the Gaza Strip ceasefire agreement on multiple occasions, including delaying the return of displaced persons to the northern Gaza Strip, attacking Palestinians, and failing to allow various supplies into Gaza. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant responded on the 10th by saying that Hamas had completely violated the ceasefire agreement, and Gallant also ordered the Israeli Defense Forces to be on the highest level of alert. The Israeli military dispatched additional troops to the southern military district on the same day. Since the Gaza Strip ceasefire agreement took effect on January 19, Hamas and Israel have conducted five rounds of detainee exchanges.
Multiple Countries Oppose US Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum
US President Trump announced on the 10th that he would impose a 25% tariff on all imported steel and aluminum, while also revoking steel and aluminum tariff exemptions and quotas for some trade partners. The new tariff measures will take effect on March 4. On the 10th, several countries expressed opposition to this. The European Commission issued a statement saying that the EU would react to the US action to protect the interests of European businesses, workers, and consumers. The statement emphasized that the US tariffs would increase costs for American companies, push up inflation, deepen economic uncertainty, and cause disruption to global markets. A spokesperson for the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action stated that the US tariffs on imported steel and aluminum products "will ultimately harm all parties' interests," and that the German government was prepared for a potential tariff conflict. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reiterated that countermeasures would be taken. French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné said that the EU would "not hesitate" to defend its interests. He stated that after Trump imposed tariffs during his first term in 2018, the EU responded with countermeasures, and this time the EU would certainly retaliate again. Canada, Spain, Brazil, and other countries also stated that they would respond based on the US measures. The US relies on imports for approximately one-quarter of its steel needs and about half of its aluminum needs. During Trump's first term, he had imposed 25% and 10% tariffs on imported steel and aluminum products, respectively, citing "national security" concerns. The EU then retaliated by imposing tariffs on 2.8 billion euros worth of US goods. US Public Broadcasting Service reported on the 10th that the latest US tariff measures will exacerbate the risk of inflation in the US economy, and these measures and the resulting retaliatory measures could lead to increased costs for American companies, job losses, and reduced competitiveness.
International News Snippets
Russia Shoots Down Multiple Ukrainian Drones, Ukrainian Gas Facilities Attacked The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that from the evening of the 10th to the early hours of today (February 11), the Russian military shot down a total of 40 Ukrainian drones. Roman Busargin, governor of Russia's Saratov region, stated that the drone attack caused damage to an industrial facility in the region. The Ukrainian side stated that air raid alerts were issued in multiple areas including Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, and Kharkiv regions this morning. Ukrainian gas infrastructure was attacked. Both Russian and Ukrainian sides stated that conflicts are still ongoing in areas such as Kharkiv and Pokrovsk. Berlin Public Transport Strike in Germany Affects Commuting On the 10th, employees of the Berlin Transport Company in Germany went on strike. Berlin subway, bus, and tram services were suspended, affecting public commuting. Public transport systems in several cities in Baden-Württemberg and North Rhine-Westphalia also went on strike on the same day, leading to widespread public transport disruption. Two Planes Collide in US, 1 Dead, 4 Injured On the 10th, two planes collided at Scottsdale Airport in Arizona, USA, resulting in 1 death and 4 injuries. According to information released by the airport, on that afternoon, a business jet from Austin, Texas, veered off the runway during landing and collided with another business jet parked on the ground. After the incident, the airport runway was temporarily closed, and the specific cause of the accident is still under investigation. Continuous High Temperatures in Argentina and Chile Trigger Forest Fires Currently in the Southern Hemisphere's summer, high temperatures and strong winds have led to widespread forest fires in many parts of Argentina and Chile. According to Argentine media reports on the 10th, continuous forest fires in the southern part of the country for several days have destroyed over 37,000 hectares of forest and agricultural land, and thousands of people have been urgently evacuated. In Chile, due to the continuous spread of forest fires, the Chilean government on the 10th ordered the evacuation of some residents in the Araucanía region and implemented curfew measures in 12 municipalities within that region. International Gold Prices Hit Intraday Record High Recently, international gold prices have continued to rise. Today (February 11), the price of spot gold in London once again broke through the $2,900 per ounce mark during intraday trading, setting a new intraday historical high of $2,942 per ounce. New York gold futures prices continued to strengthen on the 10th, briefly exceeding $2,930 per ounce during intraday trading. US media reported that the surge in gold prices was mainly due to market concerns about increased US government tariffs leading to heightened risk aversion. In addition, the future direction of the Federal Reserve's monetary policy has also deepened market concerns.