Chongli: A small town's "frozen" tale

Journey on the National Development Track

Chongli boasts vast mountainous areas with gentle slopes, early, abundant snowfall, and an average temperature of minus 12 degrees Celsius, with a snow season lasting over 150 days. More importantly, Chongli is just over 240 kilometers from Beijing, giving it a natural advantage as a ski town. Yet, behind this picturesque backdrop lies a narrative woven intricately with the threads of government foresight and corporate ventures, riding the waves of China's overarching economic ascent.

In 1996, as Harbin embraced the third Asian Winter Games, Shan Zhaoyan, China's inaugural national skiing champion and then steward of the National Sports Commission's skiing domain, alongside investor Guo Jing, cast their gaze upon the Xiqueliang Mountains, birthing Chongli's inaugural ski sanctuary, the Saibei Ski Resort.

In 2003, the intrepid skiing aficionado and entrepreneur Luo Li etched China's inaugural fully accessible snowfield into Chongli's terrain, creating the Wanlong Ski Resort. Subsequently, in 2005, the Hebei Provincial Sports Bureau breathed life into the Great Wall Ridge Ski Resort. By 2008, the Genting Group from Malaysia chiseled the Genting Ski Resort into Chongli's snowy canvas, unfurling its gates to the public in 2012.

Photo taken on Jan. 14, 2024, shows a snowmaking machine working at the Wanlong Ski Resort in Chongli District, Zhangjiakou City, north China's Hebei Province. (Zhang Andi/Guangming Online)

Meanwhile, the inaugural phase of the Zhangjiakou-Chongli leg of the Zhangjiakou-Chengde Expressway came into operation in September 2010, injecting a potent catalyst into Chongli's investment milieu.

In 2014, the coordinated development strategy of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region put Hebei on the fast track of development. Starting from 2015, Chongli seized the historic opportunity of hosting the Winter Olympics to improve its modern transportation system, accelerate integration into the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei coordinated development program, and gradually transform itself into a modern tourist town.

The Beijing-Zhangjiakou Expressway (Yanqing-Chongli Section) has a total length of about 116 kilometers, with five interchanges, 18 bridges, and seven tunnels along its entire length, with bridges and tunnels accounting for 87%. The Beijing-Zhangjiakou high-speed railway allows passengers to reach Chongli Taizicheng Station from Beijing in just 50 minutes, marking Chongli's formal integration into the "one-hour traffic circle" of the capital.

Driving along these newly paved asphalt roads that wind through the rugged mountains, travelers are greeted by the striking sight of the Olympic Rings overpass, a testament to achievement and collaboration, spanning gracefully above the roads below. These roads offer not just a smooth journey but also a glimpse into the convenience and modernity that have become synonymous with the coordinated development efforts of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, even before reaching the charming confines of Chongli.

Photo taken on Jan. 13, 2024, shows tourists enjoying snowboarding at the Genting Resort Secret Garden in Chongli District, Zhangjiakou City, north China's Hebei Province. The Genting Resort Secret Garden was the venue for freestyle skiing and snowboarding at the 2022 Winter Olympics, where a total of 18 gold medals were awarded. (Zhang Andi/Guangming Online)

In March 2017, Hebei Province officially announced the inaugural list of characteristic towns and incubation sites, among which Chongli's designation as an "Ice and Snow Culture Town" stood out prominently. By 2018, Chongli proudly unveiled its city slogan - "Chongli, the Snow Country, Outdoor Paradise," a declaration signaling its intention to transcend seasonal tourism and embrace a year-round approach centered on outdoor recreation.

Leveraging its cool summer temperatures and lush vegetation, Chongli has become a hub for outdoor pursuits such as hiking, cross-country adventures, and mountain biking. It has also cultivated a rich tapestry of cultural events, including music festivals, food extravaganzas, and immersive camping experiences, thereby diversifying its tourism offerings and enriching its cultural and sporting heritage.

In 2021, a directive from Communist Party of China General Secretary Xi Jinping urged the acceleration of the Beijing-Zhangjiakou sports culture tourism belt's construction. Responding to this call, in January 2022, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the General Administration of Sports jointly unveiled the comprehensive "Construction Plan for the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Sports Culture Tourism Belt." With a focus on sports as the bedrock, culture as the essence, and tourism as the conduit, this initiative aims to deepen regional integration, bolstered by the region's bountiful natural ecosystems and river networks. Amidst these strategic endeavors, Chongli is at the forefront of transformative development.

The early months of 2023 saw the inauguration of Aranya Chongli, heralding a new chapter in the district's evolution. The addition of Shi Xuechuan Ski Resort, the 8th of its kind in Chongli, alongside China's premier Marriott ski-in/ski-out hotel, the Courtyard Chongli, further cements the district's status as a winter sports haven. On December 30, 2023, Chongli welcomed the grand opening of its inaugural commercial complex, Chongli Four Seasons Outlets, a testament to its ongoing revitalization efforts. Meanwhile, construction is underway for the Chongli Olympic Park's National Outdoor Fitness Center, spanning 29,851 square meters and encompassing a diverse array of recreational amenities, from basketball courts to hiking trails. With an investment totaling 360.7 million yuan, this state-of-the-art facility is poised to redefine Chongli's recreational landscape, slated for completion by early 2025.