ABSTRACT Current research on the impacts of mega events have focused on the residents of the host destination despite the potential spillover effects of the impacts from the host destination to neighboring communities. This study adopts a mixed method approach to investigate the views of non-host residents from the five major cities (i.e., Qiqihar, Harbin, Mudanjiang, Jiamusi, and Daqing) in neighboring Heilongjiang province, a tier-one winter destination in China that is expected to benefit from the spillover effects of the upcoming Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic. This study contributes to the literature by highlighting the relevance of mega events for non-host tier-one destinations, and by providing policymakers with insights into economic, socio-cultural, environmental, tourism development, knowledge development, and residents’ quality of life considerations that are relevant for garnering the support of residents beyond the host destination.