On March 24–25, after 101 days of relay events featuring competitions and cultural showcases, the 17th China·Chongli International Ski Festival finally reached its final climax in the Taiwu Ski Resort. From a concise and orderly closing ceremony to a heartwarming charity dinner, from cosplay cross-dressing ski guessing races to family-friendly snow treasure hunts blending entertainment and education, plus the attendance of sports stars such as skiing world champion Guo Dandan, short-track speed skating Olympic champion Li Jianrou, former CBA’s tallest center Sun Mingming, tai chi world champion Chai Yunlong, race walking Olympic champion Wang Liping, diving Olympic champion He Chong, gymnastics world champions Mo Huilan and Bi Wenjing, and skiing world champion Xu Nannan, as well as shooting Olympic champion Yang Ling—each event was spectacular.
The China Chongli International Ski Festival is organized by the People's Government of Chongli District, Zhangjiakou City, and hosted by JDL (Beijing) Sports Culture Development Co., Ltd. Since its launch in 2001, the festival has successfully held 17 editions. Coinciding with the official entry into “Beijing Time” following the 2022 Winter Olympics, and being the first major event held at the Olympic venues in Chongli, the festival aimed to showcase the progress and achievements of Chongli’s ski tourism development to the nation and the world, while comprehensively promoting Chongli’s ecological, cultural, and tourism resources. This attracted a large number of skiing enthusiasts and industry insiders. The theme of this event was “After 101 Days Away, This Winter We Were Either in Chongli or on Our Way There!” That is, over the 101 days from November 23, 2017, to March 3, 2018, more than 100 various activities were held. These included international A-level events such as the FIS Freestyle Skiing Aerials World Cup and the FIS Snowboard Halfpipe and Slopestyle World Cup, as well as national championships like snowboard slopestyle and big air. There were also series events such as the Miss Tourism Queen International China Finals Chongli Stop and the First Global Entrepreneurs (Zhangjiakou) Innovation and Development Forum, along with numerous local folk activities in the Chongli area such as tree flower beating, back rack performances, clapper beating, Shehuo (folk performance), and temple fairs. The event received strong support from the People's Government of Chongli District, Zhangjiakou City, and was sponsored by China Dream MENGZHILAN Yanghe Blue Classic and World Star Wines Sidus, playing a crucial role in promoting the popularization of Olympic winter sports and highlighting local tourism and culture.
As the grand finale of this international ski festival, the closing ceremony of the International Ski Festival and the “Burning Hearts” Charity Happy Ski event held on March 24–25 featured uniquely creative designs. The cosplay cross-dressing ski competition saw a parade of well-known characters such as those from Journey to the West, Tom and Jerry, Guardians of the Galaxy, Captain America, Iron Man, Boonie Bears, Superman, Batman, The Little Mermaid, Frozen, Beauty and the Beast, and Cinderella taking to the slopes, igniting the passion of ice and snow and spreading the joy of the sport through entertaining and fun formats. The family-friendly snow treasure hunt was a game-based, fun-filled activity designed for families, which became a hit among ski-loving families. At the charity dinner on the 24th, star champions donated cherished personal items which were auctioned on-site, with proceeds going to charitable causes. They also called on attendees to contribute to public welfare efforts, aiming to help more people.
“The slogan of our international ski festival is ‘After 101 Days Away,’ and I think it really captures the spirit. Through these diverse competitions and educational activities, everyone experienced the joy of winter sports in a fun way, further embedding the concept of the Winter Olympics in people’s hearts,” said world champion and founder of JDL, Guo Dandan, who found the organization highly rewarding. “With the support of the Chongli District leadership in Zhangjiakou City and the active participation of industry insiders, whether ordinary citizens, government officials, or Olympic champions, the bond of skiing brought everyone closer together. With the Winter Olympics drawing nearer, we expect even more time away and an even richer variety of events.”
JDL (Beijing) Sports Culture Development Co., Ltd. was founded by China’s first skiing world champion, Guo Dandan, with the mission of serving young people of Chinese heritage globally and promoting ice and snow sports. The company possesses industry technical advantages, investment and financing strengths, government resources, and international industry connections. It has partnered with the Huabin Group to establish the Guo Dandan International Ski Academy, offering a range of initiatives including campus training, VR experience learning, overseas study tours, sports competitions, celebrity IPs, and synthetic ice equipment, all in support of the national strategy of “Three Hundred Million on Snow.” It has also built China Campus Ice and Snow Experience Centers in cities and provinces such as Beijing, Hebei, Shenyang, and Yichun, and was the first in China to develop and release the “Champion Stars Enter Campus” public welfare promotion program, aimed at bringing Olympic culture and ice and snow sports to primary and secondary schools nationwide.