China Daily Global Edition (USA)
Chongli stands as the Chinese equivalee
Much of Zhangjiakou lies in the transitional terrain between the mountains and the plains. Called “by the locals, it refers to an elevation of 1,200-1,400 meters above sea level, which means it is several degrees cooler in summer than places like Beijing and hence a perfect retreat from the heat.
Hidden among the rolling steppes and gently sinuous mountain ranges is a 133-km road officially called “Grass Skyline” and often compared to Route 66 in the United States.
Meandering from Zhangbei all the way to Chongli, this scenic drive has been a big attraction since it opened in 2012.
You’re advised to avoid the congested stretches by taking the byway so to speak, the section that leads to Chongli, which provides abundant photo opportunities but not the crowds.
Upon entering Chongli, one gets the impression that summer here is just a hiatus from one long magic winter. The streets are clean, and rows of resort apartments await their vacationing visitors or owners.
This county of 126,000 residents is blessed by snowfall six months of the year, making it a popular destination for skiers.
In 2015, it received 2.77 million visitors, generating 1.94 billion yuan ($291 million) in tourism revenue.
Ever since some ski lovers stumbled upon this place in the late 1990s, Chongli has grown into a hot spot for winter sports and vacationing.
As of now, it has 102 ski slopes totaling 112.6 km. As many as 34 of these slopes, with five aerial tramways, belong to the Genting Group, a Malaysian conglomerate that invested 15 billion yuan into a huge complex of hotels, restaurants, theme park and other facilities.
On July 31, 2015, Zhangjiakou won the right, together with Beijing, to host the 2022 Winter Olympics.
Half of the medals for the event
ba” Chongli county in Zhangjiakou, with snowfall for six months in a year, has b e Skyline”, a 133-km road in sinuous mountain ranges.
will emerge from events in Chongli, which will be connected with the capital city via a high-speed train.
By that time, the travel time will be shortened from the current three hours to less than one hour. The train station will be right next to the Olympic village, which is under construction, and all sporting venues will be within a fiveminute drive.
But you don’t need to wait until Jack Frost kisses your face to visit this charming town.
We bumped into many sports fans on the mountains, which are covered with wild flowers of vibrant colors. Some were biking on trails and others hiking and t ta S th G th k th lii