A growing number of winter sports enthusiasts from Southeast Asia are heading to China to hit up some of the country's top ski resorts, taking advantage of visa-free travel to the country and the opportunity to enjoy top-class facilities at former Winter Olympic venues.
Many are flocking to the slopes of Chongli in the northern Hebei Province, which served as one of the co-hosts of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.
Located some 200 kilometers northwest of the Chinese capital, Chongli is easily accessible via high speed train, and a popular choice for tourists.
Among those making the trip is Daniell, a Malaysian who has lived in Singapore for many years. She said she traveled to Chongli's Genting Ski Resort with a group of friends, some of whom are trying skiing and snowboarding for the first time.
"My name is Dani, originally from Malaysia, but I'm based in Singapore now for the last eight years. So actually I met this bunch of people, there are nine of us that came from Singapore, so in this case, it is skiing and snowboarding. So some of us are different levels, so some of us are here for fun, but like for myself, I've skied before, but I would like to do a refresher. And for some people who are totally beginners, they're able to take lessons here as well," she said.
Daniell has previously skied in Japan and France, two destinations known for high-standard skiing environments, but said she has been impressed by the comprehensive facilities in Chongli, including the wide range of rental gear on offer.
She said the conditions at the resort make for an enjoyable experience for a more seasoned skier like her. "If I were to compare to Japan which is slightly on the more expensive end, the snow is obviously like powder snow, right? If I was to compare to France, which is really quite icy, Chongli is a good in between. Whereby, yesterday we had a bit snow fall and then like right now it's like really very sunny. So the snow is just nice," she said.
Others who are less familiar on the slopes can quickly get the hang of it thanks to some effective on-site instruction. Zhi Ki from Singapore is making his first attempt at snowboarding. Thankfully, as a keen kayaker, his athletic background has helped him pick up the basics.
"If I were to compare to Japan which is slightly on the more expensive end, the snow is obviously like powder snow, right? If I was to compare to France, which is really quite icy, Chongli is a good in between. Whereby, yesterday we had a bit snow fall and then like right now it's like really very sunny. So the snow is just nice," said Zhi.
Booking data shows that inbound travel orders for the current snow season in China nearly doubled from the previous year, with visitors from Southeast Asia accounting for nearly 70 percent of total orders. This is largely driven by China's expanded visa-free policies which have encouraged tourism.
To meet the surging demand among foreign travelers, ski resorts across the country are also upgrading their services to boost guests' experience, including providing better quality facilities and offering multilingual support.
"Most of our foreign students are beginners, while others already have some skills and come to experience our slopes," said Ma Yixin, an alpine skiing coach from the Genting Ski Resort.
Ma added the ski resort now has more than ten English-speaking coaches working there, while the international-level facilities which served the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and continue to host major professional sports events are also well maintained.
Southeast Asian tourists hit slopes at former Winter Olympic venue in Hebei
