XIZANG, China: Southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region celebrated the commencement of its first ski resort for the current snow season, situated at an impressive elevation of 4,500 meters. Located in Lhalung Village, Maizhokunggar County, under the administration of the regional capital Lhasa, the ski resort is positioned a mere 120 km away from the city center of Lhasa.
Tashi Doje, a passionate skier, expressed his joy at the realization of his ski dream. Having learned to ski in Beijing several years ago, he can now enjoy the activity without leaving Xizang. While he appreciates the local opportunity, he notes that the ski runs are a bit short for his preference.
Ten-year-old Tawa Drolma, who visited the resort with her father, had an exhilarating experience in her first attempt at snowboarding. She expressed her excitement, stating, “I want to come here more often. It’s so much fun.”
The ski resort, which commenced trial operation on Nov. 28 after breaking ground in August 2023, is strategically positioned to harness the region’s mountainous terrain and long winter season. With a ski season spanning over six months, from October to April, the resort aims to accommodate a daily maximum of more than 3,000 visitors, with a current highest single-day skier arrival of 350.
Chen Jundan, the general manager of the resort with over 10 years of experience in running ice-snow tourism projects, highlighted the potential of Xizang as a snow sports hub. He outlined plans to open the resort regularly to children for free, promoting exposure to the joys of skiing. Additionally, the resort will be utilized for summer camping activities to maximize its economic potential.
The ski resort currently employs about 70 people, with 90 percent of them being local residents. They receive a monthly salary of approximately 4,000 yuan (about 563 U.S. dollars). As winter tourism becomes a significant driver of consumption in China, regions rich in ice and snow resources are leveraging this trend. Xizang’s authorities are capitalizing on the burgeoning ice-snow economy, aligning with a region-wide winter tourism promotion policy initiated in 2018. According to the China Tourism Academy, the ice-snow tourism sector is expected to contribute over 1.1 trillion yuan to China’s winter tourism and ice-snow economy by 2025.
