Winter sports gaining appeal in Beijing

Skiing and other winter sports have become a hot new option for those spending the Spring Festival holiday in Beijing.

According to the Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development, the capital's ski resorts received a record 84,000 visitors, an increase of 8.6 percent compared to the previous Spring Festival.

Nanshan ski resort in the northeastern district of Miyun was the top draw with 18,000 visitors, the commission said. Huaibei International Ski Resort saw an impressive increase of 93 percent from the previous Spring Festival holiday as 10,000 people paid a visit during the holiday.