Shenzhen Heats Up Winter Sports with World’s Largest Indoor Ski Resort
Shenzhen, China โ- In a surprising turn forโค the subtropical city of Shenzhen, Guangdong province, winter sportsโข enthusiasts are preparing to hit โthe slopes next month. The opening of Qianhai Huafa Snow โWorld โคon Monday will establish what โis being touted as the world’s largest indoor ski resortโ in the heart of China’s tech hub, offeringโ a year-round skiing destination despite temperatures forecast to reach 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit)โค during the upcoming โeight-day โNational Day holiday,โข also known as “golden week.”
The move reflects a broader strategy by Chinese authorities to stimulate consumption and grow the winter sports economy, fueled by increased interest following the 2022 Beijing Winterโ Olympics. Theโ 10-hectare (24.7 acre) resort โฃboasts five ski slopes, including one withโ an notable 83-meter (272.3 feet) vertical drop, catering to โboth novice and experienced skiers.โค
“It’s great that thay built this. Skiers won’t have to sit through boring summers any more,” said Xie Siya, a 30-year-oldโฃ resident of Guangzhou, who plans to visit the resort during the holiday. For skiers like Xie, โtheโ new resort offers a convenient and โฃaffordable alternative โขto conventional winter trips. She currently spends approximately 1,000 yuan (US$140) monthly at indoor ski resorts, or upwards of 5,000 yuan on trips to outdoor slopes during the โwinterโฃ season.
The rise of indoor ski resorts in China demonstrates a growing demand โfor winter sports accessibility, notably in regions where natural snowfall is rare.Qianhaiโฃ Huafa Snow World aims toโฃ capitalize โขon this trend, providing a climate-controlled environment for skiing and snowboardingโข nonetheless of โคthe season, and possibly attracting a new waveโ of winter sports participants.