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| Shichahai, a popular scenic area in Beijing, is a venue for a wide range of winter activities. (Photo by=Zou Hong/China Daily) |
[Asia News Communication = Reporter Reakkana] Countless children growing up in Beijing enjoy ice skating in winter, with the sport well established as a seasonal tradition. It’s especially popular in the capital, and despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, it delights participants of all ages who are eager to test their abilities.
On Saturday, ice rinks in the Shichahai area, one of the city's most popular outdoor skating venues, officially opened to the public, attracting many weekend visitors. Skating rinks have been marked out on two of the three lakes in Shichahai－Qianhai and Houhai－which cover a total of 160,000 square meters. Visitors can rent skates, ice bikes, and ice sleds. The areas around Qianhai Lake and Houhai Lake have daily visitor capacities of 3,000 and 5,000, respectively.
Visitors' temperatures are checked before they enter, and they must wear face masks, according to the Shichahai Tourism Development Co, which manages the rinks in the area. Beijing native Li Cheng, who took his twin sons to Shichahai on Saturday, said: "These rinks have opened three weeks later than usual this year because of the pandemic. Many people, including myself, have been looking forward to this day." Shichahai is a popular scenic spot, where visitors get a glimpse of old Beijing.
