Expansive Thaiwoo Ski & Alpine Resort Opens in Chongli in Time for Winter Olympics Hype

Beijingers can feel like Olympians this winter at the summit of Thaiwoo Ski & Alpine Resort. The premium destination for downhill enthusiasts is located in Chongli, a two-and-a-half hour drive from Beijing, and will be home to Nordic events like cross-country skiing and ski jumping during the 2022 Winter Olympic Games. The resort was unveiled to the public on December 15, allowing those prospective skiers to partake in Thaiwoo's 500m of vertical drop and its 18km of ski trails. Its other attributes include a two section, eight passenger gondola, a high speed six-passenger chairlift, a comprehensive beginner ski center,  snowmaking for all skier ability levels and more. 

As president of IMG Ski Resort Management & Axis Leisure Management, Justin Downes was heavily involved in the planning and of development of Chongli's groundbreaking Secret Garden resort, which opened in 2011. He was thrilled to have his company offer similar services in the lead up to Thaiwoo's opening, and honored to not only have that resort host the Nordic Olympic events, but also for Silver Garden to house the freestyle and slopestyle competitions. 

And while the Olympics are certainly tough to top, Downes says he is equally enticed by the prospect of building skiing culture in China beyond 2022 Games. 

"The ski industry, and all winter sports for that matter, have been on a steady upward trajectory for the past several years," Downes tells TBJ of the prospects for such chilly weather leisure in China. He adds: "The Olympic announcement has certainly solidified the potential for continued growth. President Xi announced publicly in July, that should China be awarded the 2022 Games, his mission would be to get over 300 million citizens involved in winter sports – everything so far points to the fact that he will make good on this mission." 

Downes – a native of Whistler, British Columbia, Canada who has handled the logistics between Western suppliers and Chinese investors of hospitality and tourism for years with Axis – says that promising future comes courtesy of government's rapid rate of investment into the skiing industry.

However, Downes is quick to point out how that recent development is still falling short. He believes the biggest hurdle that China’s ski scene needs to overcome has little to do with planning or investment, and everything to do with attitude and outlook. “In China, the ski industry, and to some extent the entire hospitality industry, is still seen by many local workers as a transition to something more meaningful. Whereas in ‘western resorts’ a job in the ski industry can be and is a life long career for many.”

His other gripes with China’s winter sports scene include a lack of respected ski school and ski training programs, along with a need to simplify ticketing and rental procedures so that customers can spend less time queuing and more time skiing.  

"These things are certainly improving as the customer demands evolve," he says optimistically, adding: "More and more Chinese skiers and snowboarders are now exposed to overseas experiences and have come to appreciate the finer things that international resorts have to offer. Sothey are demanding the same, or better, from the local operators. It will just take a little time for the software to catch up with the hardware."

However, Downes sees those flaws as exciting opportunities to build upon. He says more developed ski scenes in his native Canada or in Europe have far less room for growth, meaning those who get involved in China's burgeoning winter sports industry early stand to gain huge benefits, like seasoned skier cutting into freshly fallen powder and picking up speed. Downes adds that those benefits will spill over into numerous other areas, saying: "In addition to the winter benefits, most if not all of China’s new ski resorts will introduce and enhance their summer offerings, providing better and more accessible getaways from the hot, smoggy and congested city summers."

Indeed, his Thaiwoo resort already features non-skiing related services like a mountain-top restaurant and a mid-mountain tea house, both of which are directly accessible by gondola for both skiers and foot passengers. What's more, the site will unveil Hyatt Regency, Hyatt Place, and Elements by Westin hotels in the summer of 2016, along with a host of summer activities like mountain biking, hiking, and zip lines. "Thaiwoo offers by far the best variety of terrain, designed, managed and maintained by industry experts," Downes says, adding: "And it will only grow and improve in time as 2022 grows nearer.”

Directions to Thaiwoo can be found here. Prices are listed here.

Images courtesy of Justin Downes, Thaiwoo Ski & Alpine Resort