Discussion keeps the world turning.
You're listening to Roundtable.
I'm Niu He Lin with Steve and Fei Fei.
For many Chinese students, winter used to mean cold classrooms,
extra layers under the school uniform.
This year, it means free ski passes, extra family time, and a whole new reason to love December.
The rise of snow holidays taps straight into young people's appetite for movement,
experience, and hands-on learning.
Today,
Roundtable invites you to discuss with cities offering every from free ski lessons to ice fishing festivals,
are we doing a good job turning snow into opportunity?
And who knew that crime, I'm doing air quotes here, could be so awesome.
In 2025, thousands of grown adults voluntarily sprinted through sugar-crane fields,
dodged NPC guards and shouted,
Shout it into the places where they are having a lot of fun, and they are paying for the privilege.
What started as a cheeky marketing idea has turned into a popular pastime.
But behind the laughter and the ridiculous photos is a story about how adults are reclaiming silliness,
gameplay, and joy in a world that often feels too serious for its own good.
But first...
This December, Northern China is turning winter into playtime with snow holidays for students.