Winter sports spur holiday spending

More than 2.6 billion yuan ($400 million) was spent on dining, entertainment and shopping in Beijing during the New Year holiday, with the "white economy" becoming a new growth point.

With excitement rising over the city's hosting of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, many used the three-day break to try out the ski slopes in the capital's outskirts.

"We love sports, and the upcoming Winter Olympics has really raised our interests in winter sports," said Li Lei, who spent the holiday with three friends at a ski resort in suburban Miyun county.