Home>>
Feature: From Yabuli to Beidahu - the rise of China's professional and mass winter sports(Xinhua) 15:00, February 25, 2025
Xu Mengtao of China reacts during the Mixed Team Aerials final at the 2024-25 FIS Freestyle Ski World Cup in Jilin City, northeast China's Jilin Province, Feb. 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Yan Linyun)
Beidahu, which is hosting the 2024-25 FIS Freestyle Skiing Aerials World Cup, has become a significant winter sports destination and is expected to help build a comprehensive ice and snow ecosystem.
CHANGCHUN, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Excitement remains high following the captivating performances at the Asian Winter Games in Harbin and Yabuli, as attention shifts to Beidahu, which is hosting the 2024-25 FIS Freestyle Skiing Aerials World Cup.
Beijing Winter Olympic champion Xu Mengtao recently celebrated her return to Beidahu in Jilin Province, where she clinched the World Cup title. "I entered a competition here eight years ago and won. It makes me incredibly happy to win again," she said after securing victory with an almost perfect jump.
About 400 kilometers away at Yabuli Ski Resort in Heilongjiang Province, the snow events of the ninth Asian Winter Games concluded just over a week ago, marking a significant milestone for winter sports in Asia. China's delegation excelled, achieving a record-breaking haul of 32 gold, 27 silver, and 26 bronze medals.
Qi Guangpu, Xu Mengtao and Li Tianma (L to R) celebrate after the Mixed Team Aerials final at the 2024-25 FIS Freestyle Ski World Cup. (Xinhua/Yan Linyun)
Both Yabuli and Beidahu symbolize China's commitment to developing professional skiing venues. The two FIS A-level events, the Freestyle Skiing Aerials World Cup and the Freestyle Skiing Moguls World Cup, attracted 200 competitors from countries including China, Germany, Sweden, the United States and Canada. The competitions featured numerous Olympic champions and world-renowned athletes, providing an exhilarating experience for spectators.
Athletes such as Qi Guangpu and Xu Mengtao seamlessly transitioned from the Asian Winter Games to the competitions at Beidahu, highlighting the strong connection between these major events.
Competitors have praised the pristine natural snow and well-suited slopes. Mikael Kingsbury, the 2018 Winter Olympic champion, reflected on his early experiences at Beidahu. "It has changed a lot. I came here in 2010, almost 15 years ago. It was much smaller at that time. My first win was over on that side. It was nice because we had a bit of sun and less wind, which impressed me a lot."
Horishima Ikuma (L) of Japan competes with Severi Vierela of Finland during the Men's Dual Moguls final at 2024-25 FIS Freestyle Ski World Cup, Feb. 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Yan Linyun)
Finnish skier Severi Vierela, the men's dual moguls champion at the FIS Freestyle Skiing World Cup in Beidahu, praised the venue's conditions. "It's like pure snow, not slushy or anything, so it's good for athletes to get good grades. The snow condition is great, and the weather is similar to Finland. It feels awesome to win my first World Cup title here," he said.
The 2024-25 season at Beidahu has set new records, featuring an unprecedented lineup of events, including three international competitions, three continental events, eight national competitions, and one provincial event. This surge in professional activities is raising Beidahu's profile within the winter sports community. "This significant growth enhances the appeal of Beidahu Ski Resort," said Jia Ning, deputy director of the Jilin Provincial Sports Bureau.
On the third day of the Chinese New Year, Beidahu hosted the FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup for the first time. The convergence of high-level sporting events with the festive holiday not only delighted winter sports fans but also boosted the local economy. The resort reported a significant increase in visitors and revenue during the event, with a 59.2 percent rise in visitor numbers and a 51 percent increase in revenue.
Xu Mengtao in action during the Mixed Team Aerials final. (Xinhua/Yan Linyun)
"We are super excited that, as a global Snowboard Cross World Cup tour, we will also be stopping in this part of Asia. It's also a significant step for Snowboard Cross as a sport," said Uwe Beier, race director of FIS Cross and Snowboard Alpine.
On February 2, the resort recorded its highest single-day visitor count ever. Over the Chinese New Year holiday, Beidahu welcomed 98,100 visitors, marking a 20 percent year-on-year increase, with revenue reaching 55.2 million yuan (7.6 million U.S. dollars), up 23.8 percent from the previous year.
