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China builds more, bigger indoor ski resorts in a play for the ‘ice and snow’ economy
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Wobbly first-timers donning turtle-shaped butt pads stood in line for beginner slopes at the Huafa Ice and Snow World in Shenzhen on Oct 1.
ST PHOTO: JOYCE ZK LIM
Follow topic:
- China's indoor ski resorts are booming, with Shenzhen recently opening the world's largest, driven by increased interest in winter sports after the 2022 Winter Olympics.
- Policymakers aim for the "ice and snow economy" to reach 1.5 trillion yuan by 2030, but some experts warn of over-investment and competition.
- There are concerns over the environmental impact of maintaining these "giant refrigerators," though developers are trying to mitigate this with solar panels and energy-saving technology.
AI generated
SHENZHEN – Every winter, tech entrepreneur Sean Wang takes a month-long snowboarding vacation in northern China. Last week, his snow season started early – at the world’s largest indoor ski resort, which had just opened near his home in Shenzhen.
The 37-year-old was one of hundreds of skiers and snowboarders who flocked to Huafa Ice and Snow World on Oct 1, the first day of China’s Golden Week holidays, amid the sweltering 33 deg C heat outside.
