While Tibet is home to some of the highest mountains in the world, the term skiing is rarely used in the same sentence with the former home of the Dalai Lama. Normally, phrases like “human rights violations” and “environmental disasters” are much more common when talking about China’s relations with the small Himalayan region that borders Nepal. However, China hopes to change that perception by building a ski resort near the Tibetan capital city of Lhasa reports China Daily USA.
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Incorporated as a part of China’s 13th Five Year Plan, the move to build a ski area comes on the heels of their victorious campaign to host the 2022 winter olympics in Beijing. Many officials believe that by creating a viable snow sports industry, China will be able to monetize as well as publicize Tibet’s bountiful natural treasures before and after the olympic games.
Lhasa Is Located At Approximately 11,500 feet above sea level!
In the China Daily article, the deputy director of sports for the region, Nyima Tsering pointed out the viability of snow sports in Tibet saying, “With an average altitude of 4,500 meters above sea level, Tibet is rich in unique natural resources for ice and snow sports.” In addition to being the deputy director, Nyima Tsering has also been to the top of Everest 3 times and is considered one of the most experienced and influential native mountaineers in the region. He pointed out that while Tibet has a long row to hoe before making moves towards podiums in winter sports, they are not far off and a ski resort would increase their chances of worldwide visibility in snow sports.
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In the last two months, a group of four Tibetan mountaineers trained for only 90 days before claiming an 8th place finish in the 2015 Sohu Cup mountaineering competition.
Find the entire China Daily article here: Tibet to build China’s highest resort