Chongli's climate suits snow sports

There are concerns that a lack of snow might hinder Chongli County from hosting the snow sports if the 2022 Winter Olympics lands on China.

Chongli, a small county in northwest Hebei province, has been listed as snow venues in Beijing's joint bid with Zhangjiakou for the 2022 Games.

Liu Jianjun, who has been working in Chongli's weather bureau for three decades, said the Chongli's ski season lasts over 150 days from the end of October to the next April.

"The total annual snowfall here can reach more than one meter," said Liu. "Chongli has a high forest coverage and an excellent ecological environment, which is beneficial for snow storage."

Chongli had a heavy snowfall in the "World Snow Day" on January 18. For those who still worry about the alleged lack of snow, it seems they should be at ease now.

"Chongli has its own climate. Judging by the past record, even when other areas in Zhangjiakou see no snowfall, Chongli can still expect snow," said Xing Guohui, President of Zhangjiakou Olympic Winter Games Bid Committee.

Except for adequate snowfall, the temperature and wind in Chongli are also favorable to athletes.

The average winter temperature in Chongli is minus 12 degrees centigrade, which well meets the requirement of the Winter Olympics held at no lower than minus 18 during the snow season in April, and the average wind speed measures in scale 2.

The mountain altitude in Chongli ranges from 814 meters to 2,174 meters, suitable for skiing competitions as the slope degrees are mostly between 5 to 35.

Seven international federations for winter sports have completed their fact-finding visits to Chongli last November and all agreed the county is the right place for the Winter Olympics.

"The venue is surrounded by beautiful natural environment and the air is clean. I saw the snow today and I think the storage of snow won't be a problem for the events," said Borut Nunar from the International Biathlon Union (IBU) after he visited the proposed biathlon site.

Chongli has built 82 skiing pistes totalling 69 kilometers long.

The four main ski resorts -- Genting Resort Secret Garden, Wanlong Ski Resort Zhangjiakou, Great Wall Ridge Ski Resort and Duolemeidi Ski Resortis -- are within 10 kilometers from each other.

If Beijing and Zhangjiakou can win the Olympics bid, Chongli will play host to ski jumping, snowboarding, freestyle skiing, cross country skiing, Nordic combined and biathlon. Endi