Russia, resort help Jilin locales prosper

Skiing boom in Yushu

About 100 kilometers northwest of Xiaocheng, Yushu county has been bustling this winter.

Chen Ren, who works in Beijing, returned home for the Chinese New Year holiday and spent every day skiing at a resort in Yushu.

"During the workweek, I'm too busy to go skiing, and resorts around Beijing can be expensive," said Chen, a resident of Fu'an village in Huancheng town. "I didn't expect the ski resort near my hometown to have such good snow quality these days."

The resort remained open throughout the Spring Festival, attracting young people returning home for the holiday as well as visitors from surrounding counties. The facility has enriched the winter activities available to Yushu residents and nearby villagers.

"In the past, winters were slow. My friends and I used to gather to play cards or games," said Li Jinlong, a ski instructor at the resort. "But in recent years, several of my friends have obtained ski instructor certificates and started working in the industry."

Li, who worked as a coach in Changchun last year, returned to Yushu this season because of the resort's growing popularity and increasing demand for instructors.

"It's closer to my village," he said.