(Reported by Liu Xu) The main event of the 7th Happy Snow and Ice Season at the Bird's Nest will officially open to the public on January 10, 2016. Among them, the Bird's Nest Ski Resort located on the north side of the main venue will begin trial operations on the 17th of next month. It is understood that in preparation for the arrival of the 2022 Winter Olympics, the main event projects of this snow and ice season will undergo a complete redesign and upgrade, featuring a special Winter Olympics experience area. The northern ski resort and the southern plaza ice-skating area will also have separate ticketing options, allowing visitors to choose ice-skating or skiing individually.
This year’s Happy Snow and Ice Season at the Bird's Nest closely revolves around the theme “Snow and Ice at the Bird's Nest, Passion for the Winter Olympics,” creating a main venue snow play park covering over 60,000 square meters, a northern ski resort, and a southern plaza ice-skating area, all supported by professional instructors offering attentive guidance. The Winter Olympics experience area is located on the southern side of the main venue. Last year’s popular sled slide has been expanded from two lanes to four, with length, height, and slope all upgraded.
The northern Bird's Nest Ski Resort has been enlarged, with improved facilities, featuring 2 professional beginner to intermediate ski runs and 10 super tubing slides. To cater to skiers of different levels, in addition to the 100-meter beginner slope suitable for newcomers, an intermediate slope has been added, measuring 120 meters in total length.
On the 1,500-square-meter ice rink at the Bird's Nest southern plaza, citizens can enjoy figure skating, ice hockey, and speed skating. During the snow and ice season, Olympic champions and youth ice hockey teams will also be invited to perform on ice.
It is reported that the northern Bird's Nest Ski Resort will begin trial operations on the 17th of next month and officially open on the 19th. The main venue event will be open to the public from January 10 to February 28, 2016. Regular tickets for the main venue are 120 yuan on weekdays and 160 yuan on weekends and holidays, while children under 1.2 meters are admitted free of charge. Photography by Wei Tong, reporter of our newspaper.