A view of the National Ski Jumping Center, which is also known as "Xue Ruyi" in Zhangjiakou, North China's Hebei Province Photo: VCG

The National Ski Jumping Center, which is also known as "Xue Ruyi," is located in Chongli district in ­Zhangjiakou city, North China's Hebei Province.

"Xue Ruyi" is not only a winter sports center that has a capacity for 6,000 spectators, and it is also a brilliant architectural design to resemble "Ruyi," a traditional Chinese auspicious ornament that connotes the meaning of "good luck." 

The ornament "Ruyi" has a long tradition in China. It is generally made of jade or gold. The history of the object can be traced back to the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220), and in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), it became a palace treasure. 

There is a more than 130-meter drop between the top section of "Xue Ruyi" and the ground. 

The top section of the National Ski Jumping Center that is supported by two huge pillars is designed to look like a head handle of a "Ruyi," and the S-shaped track that ­connects to the top section has the similar look to the ­auspicious ornament's main body. 

The center is designed with a unique expression of Chinese culture in the Winter Olympics. 

Designers were intending to integrate international sports culture with traditional Chinese culture, before making the decision to go with the "Ruyi" concept. 

Designers reviewed more than 200 proposals, which included various traditional Chinese cultural elements such as lanterns, the Great Wall among others. 

During the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, the National Ski Jumping Center is the ­major venue to events such as ski jumping and ­Nordic combined sports competitions.