Danzel Djimon Dangleben, a first-time skier from the Caribbean, had his snowboarding experience in Shanghai this summer.

Despite outdoor temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius, a resort in Shanghai maintains its interior at a chilly minus 10 C, creating the city's exclusive summer retreat — Shanghai L+ Snow Indoor Skiing Theme Resort in Lin-gang Special Area.

This resort, home to the world's largest indoor real-snow skiing facility, has been in trial operation phase, gearing up for the final sprint toward its official opening on Sept 6.

Dangleben, who visited the resort during the trial period, says: "I'm hesitant to venture outdoors due to the scorching weather, but I'm relishing the coolness here. It feels like winter. I never thought I'd find a place to ski during the summer."

Spanning a total construction area of nearly 350,000 square meters, the resort integrates dining, accommodation, entertainment, shopping, and leisure activities.

Its Snow World, covering more than 90,000 square meters, is the world's largest indoor real-snow skiing facility and hosts around 20 snow-themed entertainment activities.

"The whole place didn't feel real, while in there I wondered just how big the building really was. It exceeded my initial estimate and has left a deep impression on me. I loved the time I spent there and look forward to the next time I get to go there. It was exciting, especially the snowboarding. I really had fun," he adds.

The venue features four different difficulty levels of ski slopes, including a 340-meter-long advanced slope with a gradient of 26 degrees. Additionally, the venue provides a ski slope for beginners, along with coaching courses and a teaching trail.

Wang Tao, the resort's design director, says: "Traditional ski resorts are typically flat, expansive areas with ski slopes comprising a starting ground, ski, and buffer section. Due to space limitations in Lingang Special Area, we opted for vertical development, stacking three levels of ski slopes and recreational areas akin to mountains."

Moreover, the resort offers three ice and snow-themed hotels with close to 1,000 rooms, including 17 innovative "ski-in ski-out" suites enabling guests to step directly onto the slopes from their rooms.

Beyond the Snow World, it has a Water World spanning nearly 20,000 square meters, offering 20 water-based activities. While the indoor section will open this year, the outdoor segment is set to debut next summer.

"Within the resort, you might see someone skiing in a down jacket while you're in a bikini, creating a striking environmental contrast between snow and water," Wang adds.

The Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022 has catalyzed the growth of the ice and snow industry in China in recent years. As a key tourism investment project in Shanghai's 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), the resort fills a void in ice and snow tourism in Shanghai and is expected to become a new landmark business for the city.

Having begun the internal testing phase in August, Yin Kang, a representative of the resort, says: "We will carefully consider tourist feedback and continuously enhance our service experience. Our resort not only serves as an ice and snow destination in Shanghai but also extends a warm welcome to enthusiasts from across the country and around the globe upon its official launch."

Besides running the world's largest indoor ski resort, Lin-gang Special Area in Pudong has witnessed continuous upgrades to popular scenic spots, cultural, and sports facilities since its unveiling five years ago, attracting a growing number of tourists to this "young place".

According to the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, Lin-gang Special Area's tourism industry generated revenue of 1.88 billion yuan ($264 million) last year, marking a 136 percent year-on-year increase, with 9.87 million tourists.

"If there were only ski resorts, visitors might stay for a few hours and depart. However, with additional attractions like Haichang Ocean Park and nearby Disneyland, a cluster effect has been created, encouraging longer stays and driving the local tourism economy," Wang says.

The Shanghai L+ Snow Indoor Skiing Theme Resort will offer weekday, peak day and special peak day passes, along with complimentary equipment rentals. Tickets are available on the official WeChat applet and various platforms including Ctrip, Meituan, and Douyin.

If you go

Shanghai L+ Snow Indoor Skiing Theme Resort

Address: No 1-5, Lane 2088, Huchenghuan Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai