People's Daily Online, Beijing, Nov. 19 (Feng Yatao) — With the successful bid for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, China's skiing industry is set to enter a phase of rapid development. It is estimated that this year, 6 million people will join the ranks of skiing enthusiasts, directly driving nearly 300 million people to engage in winter sports.
According to incomplete statistics, China has now built nearly 300 ski resorts, among which the Wanlong Ski Resort in Chongli, Zhangjiakou, saw an almost 80% increase in visitor numbers during the 2014–2015 snow season. This year, the resort opened half a month earlier and has already successfully welcomed its first wave of skiing enthusiasts.As a ski resort with mature conditions, it has also become an ideal destination for international events and activity galas. Reporters have learned that the first major international event and music festival of 2016 has been scheduled to take place at Wanlong Ski Resort.
The Snow Time Carnival is a large-scale event that combines competitions and music, making it a great choice for the New Year’s Golden Week holiday. It is also the first such event to be held in a city hosting the Winter Olympics. Taking place from January 1 to 3, 2016, this “winter wonderland extravaganza” will gather top international athletes who will showcase their skills and world-class skiing prowess in disciplines like Slopestyle and Giant Slalom.