Feature: The ski resort bringing winter sports to downtown residents

SHIJIAZHUANG, China, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- In the bustling cityscape of Tangshan, Hebei Province, a winter wonderland has emerged amid the steel and concrete. This season, the unique urban ski resort, Wandao Mountain, has attracted tens of thousands of visitors eager to experience skiing without having to travel to distant mountains.

Zhang Jiandong, a 35-year-old local, began skiing three years ago and is now fully devoted to snowboarding. "I previously practiced at ski resorts in Tangshan and Tianjin, and I often visited Chongli. Now, I can see the ski resort from my rooftop and be on the slopes within half an hour without leaving town," he said.

Opened during the 2022-23 winter season, Wandao Mountain Ski Resort is located in the center of Tangshan. The resort features seven magic carpets, two beginner trails, two intermediate trails and one snow play area, and covers over 40,000 square meters - making it an ideal spot for beginners.

The establishment of this urban ski resort was part of an urban renewal project launched in 2022 aimed at revitalizing an old industrial area. This 1.83 square kilometer region was redefined through collaboration among various departments, resulting in a ski venue that has transformed the area and offers residents easy access to winter sports.

"The first Chinese New Year after our opening saw an explosion in visitors, with daily entries surpassing 3,000," said Chu Qi, the resort's operation manager. "We operate from 9 am to 10 pm every day, and revenue has been excellent over the past few seasons."

Relying entirely on artificial snow, the ski resort smartly manages water and power consumption. Wandao Mountain is equipped with 21 snow machines, producing an average snow thickness of 60 centimeters. It takes around 0.5 tons of water to create one cubic meter of snow.

To address the enormous water demand in an environmentally conscious way, the local government built facilities to collect surface runoff during both the snow and off-seasons, directing it to the nearby Ciyuan Lake. Once the ski season begins, water is pumped from the lake for snow production through pipelines and pressurized pumping stations.

It is estimated that Wandao Mountain collects a total of 12,000 cubic meters of surface runoff each year. After undergoing multiple purification processes, the water quality remains above grade four for surface water, ensuring suitability for park maintenance, wetland ecological replenishment, and snow-making.

"The area now features an ecological cycle system that manages surface runoff collection, water quality monitoring and resource recycling, achieving sustainable water management," explained Rong Xin, Deputy Director of the Tangshan Urban Management Bureau.

This season, Wandao Mountain has introduced over 20 entertainment options, including snowmobiles, powered sleds, and bumper balls, along with popular container attractions that have drawn large crowds of tourists and local residents.

Wei Zhuhua, head of the Tangshan Sports Bureau's Mass Sports Department, indicated that by 2025, the region around Wandao Mountain will continue to develop its ecological landscape and supporting facilities. Summer operations will feature projects such as skateboarding, grass skiing and water parks, transforming the area into a new cultural and tourist landmark and revitalizing this old industrial zone. ■