Shenyang: First stop for skiing in Liaoning

Shenyang city, capital of Northeast China's Liaoning province, has become something of a "hot" destination for both tourists and winter sports enthusiasts.

"Shenyang is the first stop that is not to be missed when you come to Liaoning province for skiing in winter," said Cao Hong, deputy director of the Shenyang sports bureau, at a winter sports and tourism promotion for Liaoning province held in Shenyang on Dec 4.

Here are major reasons for the choice.

Convenient traffic

Shenyang has the biggest civil airport and the largest railway marshalling station in Northeast China and one of the country's most advanced highway networks. Visitors in downtown Shenyang can reach the four major ski resorts within an hour's drive.

Rich winter tourism resources

There are 28 ski trails in the four major ski resorts in Shenyang. Of these, the Baiqingzhai Ski Resort has held the national team freestyle skiing aerial events and conducted snowboard U-shaped field training for many years and has held international-level competitions.

The Northeast Asia Ski Resort can stage international alpine skiing competitions and operate vocational training; the Guaipo Ski Resort and Qipanshan Ski Resort mainly cater for middle and basic skiing training for the public.

In addition, Shenyang also has four indoor skating rinks, three of which can host events at or above the provincial level.

More than 30 ice and snow-themed venues – including Shenyang Qipanshan Ice and the Snow World and Olympic International Ice and Snow Carnival – also boast mature facilities for skiing.

Diverse tourism products, services

In recent years, Shenyang has developed and launched 10 major winter travel routes themed around ice and snow tourism, ice and snow culture, winter sports, hot springs experiences, ice and snow folklore, winter cuisine and winter trade.

The city has also developed a series of brand programs promoting ice and snow culture and the winter economy – including the Shengjing Ice and Snow Festival, Olympic International Ice and Snow Carnival and Shenyang Ice Dragon Boat Competition – by integrating the growth of winter sports, culture and tourism.

Broad cooperation prospects

Shenyang plans to strengthen exchanges and cooperation between North and South China, to jointly promote the high-quality development of winter sports and tourism.

It is preparing to jointly organize four-season ice and snow events with other provinces and municipalities.

Shenyang sports bureau's Cao also said the city would together develop ice and snow athlete training and stage ice and snow educational and cultural experience activities, to attract more young people to come and get to know and participate in winter sports.