China's financial hub of Shanghai is a city that barely gets any snow in the wintertime. But the world's largest indoor ski resort has opened in the city, already attracting thousands of tourists every day. The construction of the resort not only aims to serve as a new sports venue but provide visitors with a snow-like experience. Chen Tong takes a closer look.
Welcome to the world's largest indoor ski resort! Covering an overall floor area of 350,000 square meters, this resort not only allows people to ski, but gives them a fantasy winter wonderland feel just as they enter.
For many, it's essentially the first chapter of their skiing journey. And for me, living in the south my entire life, I know absolutely nothing about winter sports. But with the help of my professional coach. I'm slowly improving.
"Very good. Very good."
My coach is a full-time instructor at the ski resort. He says skiers who come to Shanghai are mostly amateur, so the demand for coaching has been quite large.
ZHAO GUOHAO, Ski instructor "I have about 60 lessons to teach about every month at peak times, serving up to 70 or 80 students."
"Now is the peak time right?"
"Yes. There have been many people coming since the resort opened in September."
At the resort, many tourists I found are actually from Shanghai.
"I've been skiing outdoors. But my work has been too busy, so I couldn't go outdoors. I'll just find a place that's close."
"It's convenient. I don't need to go to the north."
"I travelled to Chongli to ski in the past. But that's too far. I want to come experience this new place."
Taking the train to the other side of the ski slope, you'll find entertainment facilities exciting ones like a snow glider, and mountain jumper. But there are also ones that are more suitable for those who play things safe, such as myself. I opt for cycling on ice.
CHEN TONG, Shanghai "To be honest, this is the only entertainment project I dare to play. It seems childish, but it's fun."
According to data provided by the resort, the number of tourists coming to the resort reached over 5,000 every day during peak times. Forty percent of them come to the entertainment section.
In China, there are some 12.8 million people who skied during the 2023 and 2024 seasons, a year-on-year increase of some 15 percent. Now outside the resort, restaurants and hotels have also opened.
WANG HUI, Deputy General Manager, L+SNOW "People are willing to pay for ice and snow entertainment. Shanghai is in the core area of the Yangtze River Delta region, and it has skiers, families, white-collar workers who have strong purchasing capabilities."
CHEN TONG, Shanghai "I seldom see snow or experience a true frosty winter. But having this giant snow world here in Shanghai allows people to somewhat feel what many do in places like Harbin. It's also fueling the real economy, with new shops, restaurants and hotels all opening their doors for business."
It seems too good to be true. The ski resort in Shanghai has been successful so far. But can this really last?
JASON YU, Managing Director of CTR Market Research "For example, we can offer trainings to the beginners and children's all along the year. They will be able to hold more competitions as well as the more regular promotions to actually attract the consumers. Actually a lot of the ski resorts are very popular family tourist destinations in the summers because people want to get away from the heat. Based on experiences a lot of the western countries that successfully operating ski resorts for many many years, we do think that this is possible to have a full year popularity of the facility."
According to an ice and snow tourism development report released this January, average consumption per person in ice and snow tourism reached over 1,200 yuan, or over 166 US dollars, during the snow season between 2023 and 2024. And this figure is only expected to grow with indoor ski resorts generating snow all year around. Chen Tong, CGTN, Shanghai.