While the snow has been hitting parts of China since the turn of the year, the country's capital has been without the white stuff. But that hasn't stopped the ninth snow season getting underway at Beijing's national stadium, the Birds Nest. The upcoming winter games have acted as catalyst for people to get active in sports of a colder nature and with four years to go until the biggest winter sports event, their passion is growing. Mike Fox has more.

For nine years, the Bird's Nest, which will see the opening of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, has been hosting ice and snow activities for the public. Since it began it has attracted a consistent stream of visitors testing their skills and seeing how they might fare with tasks of Olympic proportion.

GUO RUNSHENG PROJECT MANAGER "As the Winter Olympics are approaching, the Bird's Nest has a responsibility to make a contribution to the games and teach people how to ski."

This year, to get more children to participate, teenagers under 15 can come in for free in a bid to help an estimated 300,000 winter sports enthusiastsvisit the stadium by March. Skiing aside, more events from the snow and ice are planned.

WINTER SPORTS ENTHUSIAST "There is ice hockey, skiing and skating. So, quite a lot of sports. I think passing on knowledge about the Winter Olympics to children will act as good preparation for the upcoming Beijing 2022 games."

The bird's nest will be open until March, including over Chinese New Year. And local citizens look to continue to grab the opportunity and keep on pouring in to their national stadium as Beijing 2022 draws closer. Mike Fox CGTN.