Children use "magic carpet" at Baiyun Ski Resort in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Jan. 27, 2021. (Xinhua/Wang Fei)
With enthusiasm running high in the run up to the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games, adorable protection gears have garnered widespread popularity among amateur skiers.
These hip protectors, resembling soft toys, are seen everywhere in the Qishan ski resort in Laiyuan County, north China's Hebei Province.
Available in the shapes of tortoise or polar bear, the hip guard has been deemed important protection equipment for newbie skiers.
"Falling is inevitable for novice skiers, so it's important to wear necessary protective gear for safety," said Zhao Zhankun, general manager of the resort.
Developed by Chinese manufacturers, the hip protector has gained more attraction compared with traditional protective gears not only because of their adorable design but also because it can cushion more impact during a fall.
"Fearful of falling as a beginner, I spent about 100 yuan (about 15.7 U.S. dollars) at the resort to purchase the protector, said Zhang Zhiyao.
The 26-year-old resident from the province's Baoding City added that he bought the protective gear after he saw people wearing it on Douyin, a popular short-video app in China.
"Despite the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic, the resort sees around 5,000 to 6,000 skiers every day during peak times," said Zhao with the Qishan resort. Boasting 13 ski trails, the Qishan ski resort is the largest one to the southwest of Beijing.
Winter sports have gained steam in China after the country set a goal in 2015 of engaging 300 million people in such sporting activities. Since then over 346 million Chinese people have participated in the sports, making the goal a reality, according to China's National Bureau of Statistics.
Winter sports-related industries are also prospering. "The orders for these protectors have continued to surge since November last year," said Wang Yang, owner of a gift factory in Hebei.
The sales of hip protectors manufactured by Wang's factory increased by more than 30 percent year on year since 2019 after he signed cooperation agreements with a dozen ski resorts in or around Beijing. Last year, his factory produced over 1.3 million such protectors.
"We don't plan to rest during the Spring Festival holiday, as we are continuing to receive orders from many ski resorts," Wang said. -
