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While the snow finally fell on Beijing for this day of giant slalom, the Olympics made Beijingers want to go down the slopes. Around the Chinese capital, the stations are full.
With our correspondent in Beijing, Stephane Lagarde
The snow fell on Beijing this Sunday, February 13, but the skiers did not wait for it to descend the slopes. In Yuyang, a small resort located one hour from the capital, the chairlifts have been busy this week.
4:30 p.m., electric snowblowers blow snow off skis and boards. Blue waistcoat, red “China ski” badge on the sleeve of the anorak. It’s been a busy day for this instructor. “ It’s probably the Spring Festival holidays and the Olympics: we have 5,000 to 6,000 people a day at the moment “, he reports.
Crowded for the New Year holidays
Skiers ready to make long queues at the ski lifts to descend tongues of artificial snow, white carpet that stops at the level of the slopes. For the Lunar New Year holidays, sliding activities are organized for parents of wealthy families in the Wangjing district, north of Beijing. “There is an JO effect, that’s for sure, says this mother while waiting for the minibus. Skiing is in fashion this year, she continues. I’m sending my children to the mountains for three days this week and that makes me want to take lessons. »
Departure in the morning at 7 a.m., return at 4 p.m. with an hour’s drive there and back, families are ready to spend almost 170 euros per child for this, for transport, ski pass, equipment rental, lunch and lessons. A new passion shared by adults for several months now.
A ski area destined to expand
Above the slopes, in the gondolas, we speak JO. ” Of course I would have liked to attend the competitions, said this woman in her thirties. Jumping events in particular. » « I might have had an invitation, but I think that with the Covid measures it’s complicated, I prefer to watch the Games on TV adds his ski lift friend. And another : ” What interests me is downhill skiing and speed. »
According to the “big snow” report, China plans to build 3,500 kilometers of ski slopes by 2022. We are still far from the mark, but the number of resorts has increased from 200 to 770 in a decade, according to the American real estate consulting company JLL.
With health restrictions and the risk of ending up in quarantine, many Beijingers did not return to their home province to celebrate the Lunar New Year with the family as tradition dictates. This also explains the crowds in the stations. 6 p.m., night has already fallen on the ramparts of the Great Wall next to the Yuyang tracks. The little music from the loudspeakers indicates that we have already switched to the evening package. It’s a little cheaper than during the day, the time for more experienced young snowboarders.
