Fitness enthusiasts work out with dumbbells at Xuejixing Urban Ski Center in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on July 8, 2026. [Photo/IC]

Indoor skiing is gaining popularity as part of Zhejiang's summer "cool economy" as visitors seek relief from high temperatures.

At Xuejixing Urban Ski Center in Hangzhou's Linping district, the contrast with the summer heat outside is striking. The center has about 10,000 square meters of ski terrain, while its cold zone is kept at minus 5 C year-round.

Since the start of the summer vacation, the center has received more than 1,000 visitors a day on average. Young ski enthusiasts, experienced skiers, and families are its three main customer groups.

Each summer, outdoor ski resorts in Northeast China and Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region close for the season, prompting many professional ski instructors to head south to work at indoor resorts in cities such as Hangzhou.

With established facilities and training programs, Hangzhou's indoor ski resorts are taking advantage of the seasonal differences between North China and South China to create a steady flow of ski professionals. Xuejixing alone currently employs more than 10 ski instructors.