Winter sports enthusiasts receive welcome at ski resort
CHANGSHA — Ski coach Guo Dandan is welcoming winter sports enthusiasts to Zhangjiajie, in Central China’s Hunan province.
“Not only can you enjoy skiing here, but also immerse yourself in the breathtaking natural beauty,” Guo said.
Guo said winter sports are booming in popularity across China, with an increasing number of people from warmer, southern parts of the country, particularly children, taking part.
The second edition of the Zhangjiajie Winter Sports Tourism Festival, launched at Qixing Mountain Ski Resort on Dec 26, attracted over a thousand people to revel in the joy of winter sports.
Since its season opening on Dec 22, the resort, nestled over 1,000 meters above sea level, has become a hub for skiers.
“Enthusiasm for winter sports has soared in China since the Beijing Winter Olympics, attracting more people in the southern regions to the slopes,” said Han Wei, the marketing director at Qixing Mountain Tourism Resort.
Han said the resort has sold over 50,000 ski tickets online, with travel agencies integrating skiing into their travel packages.
Covering almost 60,000 square meters, Qixing Mountain Ski Resort, the only Alpine outdoor ski area in northwestern Hunan, can handle 150,000 visitors a day.
To meet the growing demand for winter sports, the resort has upgraded its safety features and ski slopes, and installed new equipment. It also offers wintertime fun activities for all ages and groups, including snow sledding, snow tubing and snow go-karting.
“Our goal is to offer ski enthusiasts a unique experience, enhanced by our commitment to professional and personalized ski training,” Han said.
Wang Tao, Zhangjiajie’s deputy mayor, highlighted the impact of the Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics, both held in 2022, in spurring the growth of winter sports and related leisure tourism.
“Zhangjiajie aims to leverage skiing to enliven its winter tourism, build a distinctive brand and translate the appeal of winter sports into economic vitality,” Wang said.