Many have criticized the human rights situation in China.

America is now creating facts before the 2022 Winter Olympics in China and does not want to send diplomats to major sporting events.

The Chinese government headed by Xi Jinping criticized this sharply, hoping for a boom in the winter sports industry from the well-running winter games.

There are over 700 ski areas in China today, but most of them are very small and not well connected. Only a few resorts like Thaiwoo and the Genting Resort Secret Garden attract a large number of Chinese. Both host competitions during the Olympic Games. China is doing a lot to strengthen the industry. The very impoverished Chongli region, in which the Thaiwoo ski area is also located, got a connection to the rapid transit network to Beijing. In addition, the government would like to strengthen the industry in order to differentiate itself from the otherwise very European and American dominated market with its own products.

But skiing or snowboarding remains expensive.

It is people like the 31-year-old banker Anthony Zhang from Beijing who should be addressed.

Young high earners from the cities.

For more than 2000 euros, Zhang has just bought new snowboard equipment in Thaiwoo.

"It is very expensive.

Not just the equipment - it is also costly to hire a trainer.

In Beijing I take training lessons on an indoor trainer and of course each of the lessons also costs. "

Since 2014, until the pandemic broke out, the number of ski vacationers in China has doubled to over 20 million people.

The high price doesn't seem to deter the Chinese.

“I have the money,” says Anthony Zhang with a laugh and moves on with his new pink snowboard.