STORY: Snow tourism mania heats up China's "furnace city"
SHOOTING TIME: Feb. 2024
DATELINE: Feb. 22, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:43
LOCATION: CHONGQING, China
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of urban areas of Chongqing (file)
2. various of ski resorts in Chongqing
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): MA JIA, Ski resort tourist
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): MA FUQIANG, Ski instructor at Jinfo Mountain ski resort
5. various of people skiing in ski resorts in Chongqing
6. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): LI CHENLE, Tourist at Nantian Lake scenic area

STORYLINE:

In southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, a surprising fervor for winter sports has taken hold, transforming this "furnace city" known for its scorching summers into a hub for ice and snow tourism.

Although snow is rarely seen in the urban area of Chongqing, the city's abundant mountain resources offer a distinctive winter landscape.

Chongqing has taken advantage of its unique geological conditions and established 23 winter sports venues to cater to the needs of winter sports enthusiasts.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): MA JIA, Ski resort tourist
"I used to play in the snow on some flat ground. Now I find the fun of skiing is totally different. It's so exciting. Though I was a bit afraid at first, I became braver every time I fell. Gradually I could feel more of the excitement of skiing."

In the Jinfo Mountain ski resort, there are more than 140 ski instructors, most of whom come from northeastern China. They usually work here from mid-November to early March next year.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): MA FUQIANG, Ski instructor at Jinfo Mountain ski resort
"I come from Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, and have been working here for 11 years. Most of the tourists here are from south China, and they are so passionate about winter sports. Many of them have just tried skiing for the first time, so they are more in need of professional guidance and assistance."

Nantian Lake scenic area has rolled out a series of ice and snow tourism activities this winter, drawing nearly 250,000 tourists and generating revenue exceeding 71 million yuan (about 10 million U.S. dollars), up 132.9 percent and 60.22 percent year on year, respectively.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): LI CHENLE, Tourist at Nantian Lake scenic area
"Although we are in Chongqing, the snow scenery here reminds me of the lines, 'in a northern country landscape, expansive lands are enveloped by ice and the vast sky is full of whirling snow.'"

Statistics showed that more than 4.88 million people participated in winter sports in Chongqing from 2018 to the end of 2022.

Data from China's leading online platforms Meituan and Dianping apps showed, in December 2023, online searches for "skiing" in Chongqing surged by over 250 percent compared to the previous month, while bookings for skiing venues in the city increased by over 120 percent compared to the same period last year.

The "furnace city" has organized more than 200 cultural and tourism activities this winter, many of which include ice and snow related activities, continuing until the end of February.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Chongqing, China.
(XHTV)