Grand Tourmalet-Bareges/La Mongie Sneeuwverwachting

The Chinese government has begun publishing a series of ski-themed articles through its Xinhua state-run press agency in the run up to the 2022 Winter Olympics there, less than a year away. China has grown from having just a handful of small ski areas in the 1990s to more than 700 centres now.  By some measures this is the most of any one country in the world, although most are small centres with just one or two short surface lifts. The articles highlight how ski area developments have turned lives around in remote corners of the country.  They each talk about the economic benefits of developing ski areas, as well as skiing bringing physical and mental well-being to local people.