Visitors throng recently to the popular Beidahu Ski Resort in Jilin city. [Photo provided to gojilin.gov.cn]

Northeast China's Jilin province plans to work hard to further promote its winter ice and snow industry during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, so as to power up its local economic growth, according to local media reports.

The games take place in and around Beijing on Feb 4-20. With its theme of "Olympic Games in Beijing, winter sports experience in Jilin", the province plans to host more ice and snow themed activities – increasing promotions for ice and snow tourism, as well as stepping up the construction of major projects.

Local equipment manufacturing companies, such as China FAW Group, reportedly plan to boost their cooperation with universities, scientific research institutes and tech companies – as well as to increase investment in sports technology research and development.

A young enthusiast flashes by on a snowboard. Snowboarding is proving to be another hot winter sport. [Photo provided to gojilin.gov.cn]

With Beijing 2022 currently underway, the popularity of ice and snow tourism is said to be steadily on the up and up.

Statistics showed that the Beidahu Ski Resort in Jilin city received 26,000 tourists last winter season, a year-on-year increase of 10 percent, and generated tourism earnings of 11.3 million yuan ($1.78 million), up 17 percent. The average hotel occupancy rate during the period reached 75 percent.

Lake Songhua Resort received 20,000 tourists, a year-on-year increase of 33 percent and posted tourism income of 12.8 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of 50 percent. Its average hotel occupancy rate topped 70 percent.