China's slopes lure Japanese skiers

CHANGCHUN — As fresh snow blanketed the peaks of the Daqing Mountains in Jilin province, young skiers from China and Japan raced down pristine slopes, carving intersecting tracks across the white canvas.

A shared passion for skiing has brought together athletes from Shanghai's Xuhui Youth Ski Team and Japan's Niigata Prefecture Ski Alliance, sparking friendships and fostering cultural exchange.

The teenage skiers, all under 18, began skiing before elementary school and now compete in professional tournaments. The two teams trained together at the Vanke Songhua Lake Ski Resort in Jilin. Activities included slalom training, freestyle skiing, and post-piste video analysis to improve techniques.

"Shared interests helped the youths bond quickly. The detailed guidance from Japanese coaches greatly benefited our athletes," says Zhang Xinyun, leader of the Shanghai team.

Among the participants was 11-year-old Wu Sitong, who recently took part in the Shanghai Youth Competition, and who was most impressed by the attitude of her Japanese peers. "They get up very early and spend a long time every day training," she says.

Yokoo Aki, 17, from Japan, was taught to ski when she was 4 by her father, and began competitive skiing at 7. She is preparing for the International Ski and Snowboard Federation's Alpine Skiing competition in Hokkaido later this month.

"The snow quality here in Jilin is excellent, and the trails are long, which makes it thrilling to ski here. I was also touched by how polite my Chinese ski friends were. Everyone greeted me with a 'hello' on the lift," Aki says.

Yokoyama Riyou, who has visited China a number of times over the past two decades, spoke about the growing collaboration between the two countries. "Many Chinese ski lovers frequently visit Niigata prefecture. Skiing has become a bridge of friendship," he says.

China and Japan have a long history of ski exchanges. In 1979, Piao Dongxi and Wang Guizhen trained in Japan for China's debut in the Winter Olympics.

Their coach, Hiroaki Kawano, later visited China six times to strengthen ties between ski communities in the two countries. With its more developed tradition of skiing, Japan remains a popular destination for Chinese ski enthusiasts.

Meanwhile, China's rapid development of its winter sports sector led to the construction of 935 ski resorts by the end of last year.

Yokoyama acknowledges that many Chinese facilities now meet world-class standards.

"Jilin is gifted with an earlier ski season and a longer snow period compared to many parts of Japan," says Zhang Penghao, the resort's general manager. "Combined with excellent accommodation and dining options, we have become a preferred winter destination for keen Japanese skiers and sports teams."

According to data, bookings for Chinese ski resorts by Japanese travelers surged by 150 percent after visa-free travel was introduced in late November. Jilin and Changchun, two cities in Jilin, saw year-on-year increases of 267 percent and 103 percent, respectively, in terms of Japanese bookings.

"Delicious food and comfortable living conditions made my training in China much easier," says 15-year-old Kensei Wakai, who is preparing for high school. "I hope to come back to ski in China again after I start high school."

Xinhua