2016年CRI Chinese Tourists Take to Ski Slopes during Lunar New Year Holiday（在线收听）

With the Lunar New Year holiday now in full-swing, many are taking time to head to Chongli County in Hebei to try their hand at skiing.

Chongli is located on the outskirts of Zhangjiakou, around 220-kilometers northwest of Beijing.

Even before the granting of the Winter Olympics by the International Olympic Committee, Chongli County had already become an increasingly popular winter tourist destination.

"I used to spend the Lunar New Year holiday touring around the city and visiting relatives, getting money in my 'hongbao.' This year, I spent all that money I saved over the previous holidays to buy skis and the passes to the ski resorts. I love skiing. I really do."

Skiing and other winter sports are being promoted in China, given that Beijing and Zhangjiakou are set to host the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Chongli County, which has five well-equipped ski resorts, is already known in China as the training center for experienced skiers.

Wang Zhong, a ski instructor from Beijing Union University, says he decided to move his training sessions to Chongli to make use of the equipment.

"Many amateurs from Beijing have come to Chongli to practice their skiing skills. They've been improving quickly. We used to train our students at local ski resorts in Beijing, but they aren't good enough for students who want to actually improve. So this is why we decided to come here last year."

In awarding of the Olympic Games to Hebei, authorities in Beijing's surrounding province have plans to build a multi-billion yuan winter sports industry.

The hope is to transform Hebei into a premier destination for winter sports in time for the 2022 Games.

Plans include developing a high-end venue for winter sports in each of Hebei's 11 major cities in the next 8-years.

The start of the calendar year on January 1st saw Chongli County attract nearly 100-thousand visitors over the 3-day holiday.