China's winter sports scene has boomed in popularity ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. (Photo : Getty Images)
Ahead of China’s hosting of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, winter sports in the country is enjoying a rapid rise in popularity. Much of the country’s abundant facilities for winter sport--from skating rinks to ski resorts--are now brimming with enthusiastic locals promising to generate vast economic gains.
The northeastern province of Jilin Province particularly enjoys a fine supply of amenities suitable for winter sports. The province has also produced two of China's gold-medal winners during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, making it a strategic spot for enhancing interest in winter sports.
But beyond the 2022 Winter Olympics, which China aims to turn into a successful event, the country vows to become a prominent force in winter sports throughout the next decade. Economic benefits, rooted from the country's vast areas great for winter sports, are seen to deliver generously out of that vision.
In fact, more and more Chinese people are finding winter sports as trendy activities for winter vacations. Xinhua reported that several of the country's around-200 skiing resorts have become choice destinations for Chinese vacationers--proof that winter sports have experienced a popularity boost in recent times.
Another proof that winter sports is gaining ground in China is the Vasaloppet China stage of China Tour de Ski, which has held its 15th edition in Changchun, Jilin Province's capital. The tournament, scheduled every year on the first days of January, gathers some of the world's most talented skiers worldwide.
China Daily reported that winter sports products have started to proliferate in the domestic market. Anta, one of China's largest sportswear brands, has announced its plan to launch a full-fledged lineup of winter sports products this year.
With China generating only 12.5 million visitors to its ski resorts in 2015 compared to 53.9 million in the U.S., the country has a lot of legroom for expanding its highly lucrative winter sports market. Such, of course, would lead the country to reap massive economic rewards.
