Hailing from a country with more ski resorts than China, Japanese Ski Association official Wakatsuki Hitoshi has nevertheless sent many groups of skiers to train in Zhangjiakou, Hebei province, since 2004.

Featuring high-standard ski trails covered by artificial and natural snow, Zhangjiakou's Chongli county appeals to avid skiers from China's neighbors, including Hitoshi's Japanese athletes. That's one reason it was selected as the co-host of Beijing's bid for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games.

"Japanese skiers used to train in Europe during the early phase of the skiing season, but Chongli has emerged as a better choice in recent years," Hitoshi, a JSA council member, said at a news conference in Beijing on Tuesday.