The 2014 Tour of Beijing professional road cycling race released its new route on August 6. Unlike previous years, this edition breaks geographical boundaries for the first time by extending into Zhangjiakou City. The Zhangjiakou stage will pass through the ski resorts of Chongli and Chicheng, as well as Zhangbei County, known as the “First County of Bashang.”
It is reported that the Tour of Beijing will cover three counties in Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province, and seven districts and counties in Beijing, with a total stage distance of 764.5 kilometers. A total of 144 athletes from 18 of the world’s top cycling teams will compete in the event. Of the five stages, the first will cover the full 167-kilometer distance within Zhangjiakou. From the second stage onward, the route will continue from Zhangjiakou to Yanqing County in Beijing, and the final day’s race will take place within Beijing city, finishing at the east gate of the National Aquatics Center.
The Zhangjiakou stages in Chongli, Chicheng, and Zhangbei County are all popular tourist destinations, allowing hundreds of millions of global viewers to enjoy not only the exciting race but also the natural scenery and cultural attractions of Zhangjiakou.
Zhangbei County, located in the extension of Inner Mongolia’s Xilingol Grassland, is the closest virgin grassland to Beijing. The area boasts numerous natural and cultural attractions, including 11 established tourist sites such as the Zhongdu Virgin Grassland Resort, Anguli Grassland Resort, Zhongdu Nomadic Origin, and Huapiling. Among these, two are rated as National AAA-level tourist attractions. With its long history, unique natural landscapes, and local customs, Zhangbei County is highly suitable for summer tourism and escape from the heat.
Chongli County, home to many high-end ski resorts, attracts large numbers of skiing enthusiasts every snow season. Numerous ski resorts have sprung up across Chongli. Mr. Gerhard Heiberg, Chairman of the IOC Marketing Commission, commented after inspecting the ski resorts in Chongli: “Chongli is currently the best location in China capable of hosting snow events for the Winter Olympics.”
Although Chicheng County is just beginning to develop its skiing industry and has yet to form an industry-scale operation, its newly built Xin Xue Guo Ski Resort represents a massive investment of 10.9 billion yuan. Once completed, it will become China’s only intercontinental ski resort capable of achieving an 800-meter vertical drop within a 3,000-meter slope length, meeting the standards for hosting top-tier international skiing competitions.
This edition of the Tour of Beijing connects several major ski resorts in Beijing and Zhangjiakou. In addition to showcasing the abundant tourism and resort resources of both cities, it will also allow the two municipalities to accumulate more experience in hosting large-scale events through their collaboration. It is reported that audiences of the first three editions of the Tour of Beijing have spanned over 50 countries and regions, reaching nearly 900 million people. As one of the windows showcasing Beijing and Zhangjiakou, the race is expected to give people around the world a deeper understanding of the two cities.