People have fun on the snow at Big Air Shougang, a venue for the big air events of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, in Shijingshan district, Beijing, on January 7, 2023. Photo: IC

While it is freezing cold outside in the mountainous Gushancun village in ­Beijing's western Mentougou district, it hasn't stopped the Li family from traveling more than 50 kilometers from the capital's ­downtown area to the village to enjoy winter activities like ice climbing, skating and skiing.

Tens of thousands of Beijing families like the Li's are rushing to various spots around the former Winter Games host city as the whole country enters a new phase of COVID-19 response.  

"We are expecting swarms of travelers in the coming weeks," Xia Mingjun, the director of the Mentougou Culture and Tourism Bureau, told the Global Times on Monday as the mountainous region released two tourism plans to connect its rich winter sports resources. 

"From Gushancun to Guacaodi, Mentougou is ready to show off its natural scenery and passion for the winter season," Xia said, adding that more than 20 spots have been linked to build "a strong atmosphere for the winter and Spring Festival season."

It is not just Mentougou. Northern ­Beijing's Yanqing district, which hosted an Olympic Zone for the alpine skiing, bobsleigh, skeleton and luge competitions during the 2022 Winter Olympics, and Miyun district, home to the well-known Yunfoshan  and Nanshan ski resorts, has released new tourism routes as well as extended opening hours to late at night to meet increasing demand from winter travelers. 

Photo: Courtesy of Mentougou Culture and Tourism Bureau

The Yanqing Olympic Zone has set up various experience areas for ski lovers of differing abilities. A three-kilometer-long ski trail for beginners and amateur runs through a forest and across a bridge, offering a great view of the unique scenery of Haituo Mountain, before circling back to the Olympic Village. High-level skiers can slide smoothly on the slopes of the National Alpine Skiing Center and experience the same competitive feeling Olympic athletes did back in 2022, a lasting legacy of the Games.

Ski lover Wang Daqian, 35, told the Global Times on Monday that he has booked three tickets for the center to spend the weekend with friends.  

In Shijingshan district's Shougang Park, neighboring Mentougou, hundreds of travelers lined up on Monday to wait for their turn to slide on a large inner tube along the lanes at Big Air Shougang, which witnessed Chinese snowboarder Su Yiming's gold in the men's snowboard big air final and Gu Ailing's historic gold in the women's big air freestyle ski event. 

A staff member at Shenquanxia in Mentougou, which is known for its frozen ­waterfalls, said that they have received a lot of inquiry calls from travelers and seen an increasing number of visitors. 

Xia told the Global Times that local tourism sectors are working closely with travel platforms to offer favorable packages for travelers and to host various culture and tourism events to attract them. 

"I sincerely welcome all tourists to come to Mentougou to participate in the series of activities at the Ice and Snow Carnival, to enjoy the snow scenery, live in small ­courtyards, taste delicious food, and celebrate the New Year in the west of Beijing," he said.

Photo: Courtesy of Mentougou Culture and Tourism Bureau