Bird’s Nest to stage ski resort

(chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-11-30 11:44

The operator of China’s national stadium, also dubbed the “Bird’s Nest”, announced Sunday the Beijing Olympic stadium will stage its first snow season carnival, starting December 19 until February 20, 2010, the Beijing Youth Daily reported.

It will become the biggest ski park in urban Beijing, occupying 57,000 square meters and covered with 40 cm of snow. Five thousand seats in the south part of the stadium have been removed and a six-degree ski slope, 80 m in length and 80 m wide, will be installed, where visitors can ski straight to the center of the snow carnival, the report said.

The biggest attraction will be the 10 m-high and l00 m-long free skating zone, which will also offer snow scooters and dog sledding.

“We bought eight snow machines and trained our personnel for a whole month. The snow will begin on December 10,” an unnamed operator said.

Ticket prices for weekdays are 120 yuan ($17.5), weekends 180yuan ($26.3). Discounts will be available for students, soldiers and the disabled, the stadium said.