STORY: Winter sports competitions boost ice-and-snow economy in China's Chongli
SHOOTING TIME: Recent footage
DATELINE: Jan. 7, 2025
LENGTH: 00:01:21
LOCATION: SHIJIAZHUANG, China
CATEGORY: ECONOMY/SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of winter sports in Chongli
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): LIU JIAN, Coach of the Liaoning alpine skiing team
3. various of winter sports in Chongli
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): XU YAN, Manager of a local ski equipment store

STORYLINE:

Since hosting some events of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, Chongli in China's Zhangjiakou has become a popular destination for winter sports competitions.

In the 2024-2025 season, seven international level and eleven national level snow sports events have been or will be held in Zhangjiakou. This accounts for 39 percent and 48 percent of the total number of such events nationwide, respectively.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): LIU JIAN, Coach of the Liaoning alpine skiing team
"We have been training in Chongli for over a month. This time, we are here to participate in the 2024-2025 National Alpine Skiing Championships. During our time in Chongli, the training experience has been excellent. The snow conditions here, the facilities of several large ski resorts, and the difficulty of the slopes are all very good."

These winter sports events have helped boost the local ice-and-snow economy.

Chongli received more than 8.5 million tourists in 2024, marking an 18 percent year-on-year increase. Total tourism revenue for the year reached 9.55 billion yuan (about 1.3 billion U.S. dollars).

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): XU YAN, Manager of a local ski equipment store
"As a professional in the skiing-related industries, I have clearly noticed this ski season that more and more people are getting into the sport and an increasing number of people are learning about it. During this past summer, we went to learn about ski equipment maintenance and repair, and we even obtained certifications, all to better serve the skiers who come to Chongli from across the country. We want to ensure that everyone who comes to Chongli for skiing has a better experience."

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