Struggling ski resorts offered financial aid

Beijing Winter Olympics venue Yanqing is taking a number of steps to combat the impact of the coronavirus on the region's ski industry.

According to a new local government policy, Yanqing district will subsidize water, electricity and maintenance costs for businesses forced to close during the virus outbreak.

Vanke Shijinglong Ski Resort, which has been operating for over 20 years, is typical of businesses in the area that have been hit hard by the epidemic.

The resort's temporary closure in January as part of measures to curb the spread of the virus has shortened its ski season from 101 days to 63 days, slicing about 11 million yuan ($1.65 million) off its revenue.

Yanqing district has provided Vanke Shijinglong with water and electricity subsidies to help it through this difficult time and hopefully lay a foundation for the resumption of business in the next snow season.

As of Feb 28, three other winter sports enterprises in the district had completed the subsidy application. Pending approval, the funds will be distributed to the businesses as soon as possible.

Back to work

Meanwhile, workers have resumed the construction of a metro line that will serve the 2022 Olympics.

The western section of Beijing Subway's Line 11 will encompass four new stations and cover a distance of about 4.2 kilometers. Construction on the extension began in 2019 but was suspended due to the novel coronavirus outbreak.

The new section is scheduled to begin operation at the end of 2021.

The line serves the headquarters of the Beijing Winter Olympics Organizing Committee and sports venues in western Beijing.

Beijing plans to invest 66.2 billion yuan ($9.47 billion) in 100 infrastructure projects this year. The subway's Line 11 upgrade is one of 16 rail transit projects under construction which will massively extend the capital's metro network.

Beijing is endeavoring to balance virus control measures with the gradual resumption of major construction projects.

Zhao Jianwu, a project manager at the Line 11 construction site, said that 148 workers have passed health checks. Workers change masks three times daily to protect against infection.

"We are racing to carry out safe construction to keep up with the project schedule," said Zhao.