From “Cold Resource” to “Hot Industry”: A “Structure-Function” Analysis of the Formation of Ice and Snow Industry

Abstract

The study is based on the overarching paradigm of "resource-culture-industry" and utilizes the ice and snow industry in Harbin as a case study. The objective is to analyze the structural and functional transformations of ice and snow respectively as a resource, culture, and industry. This is achieved by examining the interrelationship between and transition among these dimensions to demonstrate the entire dynamic process from "cold resource" to "hot industry". The study examines the development of ice and snow culture, characterized by regional distinctiveness, which emerges from the early stage of resource utilization. As a form of structural heritage, this culture not only can guide resource allocation but also plays a dynamic role in shaping the local economy. Moreover, the industrialization of cultural heritage facilitates the transmission of exemplary traditional cultural practices while promoting the industrial transformation of the ice and snow sector and fostering a growth of related industries. This research posits that by prioritizing ice and snow cultural heritage, it is possible to cultivate competitive endogenous advantages, thereby infusing new vitality into the sustainable development of the local economy.