The National Speed Skating Oval, also known as the "Ice Ribbon", in Beijing, Dec. 31, 2019. Construction of the venue is progressing as scheduled. It is expected to host test events in June 2020 for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

In the 2021-2022 winter season, China is expected to have 340 million ice and snow tourists with a tourism revenue of 680 billion yuan (97.6 billion U.S. dollars).

HARBIN, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- China is expected to see booming ice and snow tourism as the country braces for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, said a report.

In the 2021-2022 winter season, the country is expected to have 340 million ice and snow tourists with a tourism revenue of 680 billion yuan (97.6 billion U.S. dollars), according to the report released by the China Tourism Academy.

In the 2018-2019 winter season, China's ice and snow tourists totaled 224 million, with a tourism revenue of 386 billion yuan, up 13.7 percent and 17.1 percent from the 2017-2018 winter season, respectively, the agency said at a forum held in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Sunday.

Fireworks explode to celebrate the opening of the 36th Harbin Ice and Snow Festival at Harbin Ice-Snow World in Harbin, capital of China's northernmost Heilongjiang Province, Jan. 5, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao)

The "ice city" Harbin on Sunday kicked off its 36th international ice and snow festival, with more than 100 activities scheduled for the coming three to four months.

The annual ice and snow festival has become a name card of Harbin and a major contributor to its booming winter tourism. ■