THE provincial outpost of Chongli, 250km (150 miles) north-west of Beijing, has all the trappings of a proper ski town. There are hotels, restaurants, shops offering the latest gear, and even a street of bars for the après-ski set. Chongli’s rapidly developing resorts may lack the striking vistas and the rich forest landscapes of the Alps or Rockies. But the scenery, if less grand, is nice enough. So is the skiing itself. Chongli’s drawback is that, as in much of China’s arid north, there is an acute shortage of water to make snow. But in their pursuit of prestige, government planners see that as little hindrance. Developing winter sports, say officials, is China’s “dream”.
Until the 1990s, winter sports in and around Beijing were largely confined to skating and, for a hardy few (mostly elderly men), swimming near-naked in pools cleared of ice. A lack of snow and, above all, of middle-class spenders, made skiing all but unthinkable. Now ski resorts abound on the hills near Beijing (the artificial snow is made with underground water) as well as across chillier and snowier regions....Continue reading
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