Skiers flock to resorts to experience winter sports charm

As temperatures drop, China's winter tourism market is heating up, with ski enthusiasts flocking into resorts to experience the charm of winter sports and embrace the beauty of snow scenes. The newly-built Snow Ruyi Ski Resort began its trial operation on Sunday. Located in the Chongli Olympic Park in Zhangjiakou City of north China's Hebei Province, the resort is near the iconic venue of the Beijing Olympic Winter Games, the National Ski Jumping Center, which is affectionately known as "Snow Ruyi."

The resort is planned with a total ski area of 135 hectares for 31 trails. "We have currently received data showing that over 2,000 ski enthusiasts have already booked tickets for today (Sunday), and the number of visitors arriving on-site has exceeded 1,000," said Zhai Yanli, an employee of the resort.

The resort has set up a youth skiing competition arena and a dedicated rest area for young skiers. The competition arena is the first of its kind in China, designed specifically for training and competition events for young skiers. The resort will host technical sharing and exchanging activities, providing systematic and comprehensive support for youth skiing competitions and training sessions. Most of the snow sports events of the Beijing Olympic Winter Games were held in Chongli District. With unique natural resources, Chongli now has nine ski resorts, with a total length of ski trails exceeding 160 kilometers. It has become one of the premier ski destinations in China.

Major ski resorts in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province have upgraded and renovated their infrastructure for the peak season, while some of them have launched night services to draw more skiers.

A ski resort in Shuangyashan City has launched night skiing service, offering skiers an unprecedented and unique experience.

In order to ensure the safety and order of night skiing, the resort has increased investment in lighting equipment, illuminating almost every corner of the ski trails. Meanwhile, the resort has also provided ample hot drinks and food in the rest areas for skiers to warm up and relax. "I'm busy with work during the day and don't have free time, but I really enjoy skiing. This resort offers a great night skiing option, which I particularly like. I come here to ski almost every day," said Deng Limei, a ski enthusiast. Another ski resort in Shuangyashan has also attracted ski enthusiasts from all over the country with its excellent ski trails and beautiful natural scenery.

"The views of this ski resort are quite expansive, which really lifts my mood. The staff provide us very enthusiastic service, and I'm very satisfied," said Zhao Dezhou, another ski enthusiast.

The ski craze is not limited to the northern parts of the country. In the high-altitude mountainous areas of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, snowfall has been widespread over the past few days, turning some scenic spots into popular destinations for admiring snow scenery and skiing. At the Nantian Lake Resort in Chongqing's Fengdu County, which has an average altitude of 1,600 meters, visitors and local residents were seen enjoying the fun of ice and snow sports. "I feel very happy to be able to ski freely in such beautiful scenery," said Yin Ran, another ski enthusiast.

Skiers flock to resorts to experience winter sports charm

Baoshan, a city in southwest China's Yunnan Province, has implemented a raft of measures to ensure that disadvantaged children receive the care and support they need.

Home to about 41,900 vulnerable children, the city has recently inaugurated Baoshan Hanying Runze School, a model institution designed specifically for students facing difficult circumstances.

Founded in September, the school currently serves around 180 students from grades one to nine, most of whom come from underprivileged families.

"Most of our children lack parental care and family supervision. Here, our teachers are not only educators but also act as parents to the children. Each teacher looks after four to five students. During special holidays, we invite them to our homes," said Zhou Jie, the school's principal.

This unique brand of care permeates every corner of the school, where warmth and compassion define the environment.

"At this school, there's a warmth that feels like home - something I never experienced in my previous schools. The teachers are incredibly supportive, helping us in every aspect of our learning and daily lives," said Chen Zilin, a student.

The city's officials have also rolled out targeted assistance for impoverished families, ensuring their children's safety while offering essential livelihood support.

"Every three months, we visit the children to understand their needs, identify any challenges they face, and determine what kind of assistance is required," said Zhao Yankai, a staff member with the Jinji Township Government, under the jurisdiction of Baoshan City.

In addition, Baoshan has partnered with China Mobile, a major telecom provider, to create a special platform that enables young students at the school to video chat with their families while they board.

Baoshan launches initiatives to support underprivileged children