China's Alpine Skiing Center unveils upgraded skiing facilities to meet growing popularity

China's National Alpine Skiing Center at the Yanqing Olympic Zone in Beijing has launched a new ski slope and upgraded its facilities to cater to the increasing demand from skiing enthusiasts, offering an enhanced experience for visitors.  

The Ruixue Avenue in the center, used for the downhill event during the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, is now open to the public for the first time. Spanning nearly 2,200 meters with a maximum gradient of 64 percent, the course is designed for advanced and professional skiers seeking a challenging experience.  

"The avenue is located along the mountain ridge, which means skiing will not only test your skills but also provide stunning views," said Chen Hongyan, deputy general manager of the center.  

With the Ruixue Avenue, the center now offers 10 ski runs covering all levels, including beginner-friendly areas and trails of intermediate to expert difficulty.  

To prioritize the safety of skiers, the resort is equipped with a professional patrol team that monitors the snow quality and patrols between the skiing slopes to assist skiers in need, according to Chen.  

"This year we have taken new measures to ensure the safety of skiers, including increasing the number of patrol members and their frequency compared to last year," she said.    

To enhance visitor experience, Yanqing Olympic Park has also upgraded its amenities, adding 32 new electric vehicle charging stations, including 19 slow chargers, 10 fast chargers, and three Tesla-specific superchargers.  

The center is currently experiencing its peak consumer flow, with the number of skiing enthusiasts increasing by about 50 percent compared to the same period last year. This peak period is expected to continue until mid-February.  

The increase in consumer flow has also boosted the demand for accommodation and catering. In response, the center has introduced a range of innovative services to cater to tourists' needs.   The Winter Olympic Village resort hotel, located at the foot of the ski resort, has recently launched a skiing plus accommodation package, allowing visitors to enjoy all the amenities and conveniences without needing to leave the center.  

For the first time, the same rooms where Chinese athletes stayed during the 2022 Winter Olympics are opened to ordinary consumers. All the rooms are decorated with Winter Olympic-themed elements.  

Fridays and Saturdays see peak occupancy rates of the hotel, reaching about 80 percent, according to the hotel staff.   As the Spring Festival approaches, the hotel has received numerous reservations, as many skiing enthusiasts choose to celebrate the festival on the slopes.  

So far, about 300 rooms have been reserved for the Spring Festival, accounting for 43 percent of the total, and it is expected to be fully booked during the holiday.  

The Spring Festival falls on Jan 29 this year, marking the start of the traditional Chinese Lunar New Year. As China's grandest traditional festival, it is a time when people across the country travel back to their hometowns to celebrate and reunite with their families.

China's Alpine Skiing Center unveils upgraded skiing facilities to meet growing popularity

Yiwu, the eastern Chinese city known as "the world's supermarket," achieved a record foreign trade value of 173.56 billion yuan (25.2 billion U.S. dollars) in the first two months of 2026, a significant 52.8 percent increase over the same period of the previous year.

In the two-month period, the growth rates of both imports and exports of the city exceeded 50 percent.

In the January-February period, Yiwu's global trade partnerships expanded to include 222 other countries and regions, adding nine more compared to the same period of last year.

Africa became Yiwu's largest trade market during the period, with trade to the continent rising by 84.7 percent year on year, accounting for 20.4 percent of the city's total foreign trade value.

Among the major trading partners, Yiwu experienced the fastest import and export growth with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which surged by 99 percent year on year. Additionally, Yiwu's imports from and exports to Latin America and the EU grew by 34 percent and 64.6 percent year on year, respectively.

In the first two months of 2026, the city's trade with other countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative totaled 124.43 billion yuan (18 billion U.S. dollars), an increase of 59.5 percent year on year, accounting for over 70 percent of Yiwu's total foreign trade value for the same period.

China's Yiwu sees 52.8 percent year-on-year increase in trade in January-February