Ground Level: Zhangjiakou

A little-known neighbor of Beijing is using the opportunities created by its joint bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics to kick-start its economy and reshape a green future.

A fast cable line transfers skiers from the Genting Resort Secret Garden's five-star hotel to the 2,100-meter-altitude starting point of the trails in 10 minutes. Provided to China Daily

Olympic bid gives ski resort chance to promote image around the world

When Italian professional snowboarder Manuel Dioli first came to Chongli county in Zhangjiakou, Hebei province, in December, he felt as if he had arrived at an Alpine ski destination in his native country.

"The undulating local terrain, surrounding modern ski resorts, hotels and ski shops lining the road, all those just look like ski towns in Europe except for stretches of the Great Wall on the ridges," Dioli said during a recent media tour to explore the renowned ski center in North China.

Thanks to the surge of the skiing industry in recent years, Chongli is appealing to more international skiers after joining Beijing's bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics as ski-event co-host.

Beginning in 1996 from a 300-meter rough snow trail hand-paved by local villagers, the ski industry in Chongli has developed into a cluster of four major commercial ski resorts. They operate 82 high-standard slopes and 24 cableways to accommodate more than 1 million visitors a year, mainly from Beijing and Tianjin.

"The bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics will definitely provide a huge boost to the already flourishing ski industry here. More international expertise and investments are expected to come, helping upgrade ski facilities, services and relevant infrastructures within a short time," said Wei Qinghua, president of China Mountain Development and senior consultant of the bid committee.

Zhang Chunsheng, executive director of Zhangjiakou's 2022 bidding office, echoed Wei's sentiment.

"The bid offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Chongli to promote its image to the world, cementing its status as a winter recreation center in North China," Zhang said.

Beijing submitted its official bidding report and guarantee to the International Olympic Committee in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Jan 6. The IOC delegation will visit Beijing for further inspection before making the final decision between Beijing and the other candidate city, Almaty, Kazakhstan, in July.

Chongli will host six snow disciplines, including freestyle skiing, biathlon and snowboarding, at the Genting Resort Secret Garden and a nearby new Nordic ski center if it wins the bid, according to the report.