The Huafa Snow Bonski Cup debuted on 23 April China's first FIS-certified indoor alpine skiing competition. Photo Credit: Huafa Snow Bonski Cup
China’s winter sports ambitions are showing signs of stretching beyond both geography and season, fresh off its strongest-ever performance at the recent Cortina Winter Olympics.
While northern China remains the epicentre of elite winter sports, the development of indoor venues, regional collaboration and an expanding calendar of events is set to create a year-round industry.
On 23 April, the Huafa Snow Bonski Cup made its debut as China's first indoor alpine skiing competition certified by the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS).
Held at Qianhai Snow World in Shenzhen, far from China’s traditional snowbelt, the event brought together junior athletes from 12 countries and regions.
At roughly 100,000sqm, the facility is currently the world’s largest indoor ski dome, designed to meet international competition standards.
Greater Bay Area collaboration
Beyond the slopes, the Shenzhen event also highlights a new phase of Shenzhen-Hong Kong cooperation in advancing winter sports across the Greater Bay Area.
After the Huafa Snow Bonski Cup opening ceremony, Ski Association of Hong Kong (SAHK) formally established its Shenzhen office in a plaque exchange ceremony with the Ski Association of Shenzhen.
Collaboration between the associations will focus on events, talent development, and shared standards.
The partnership is set to build a tightly connected winter‑sports network in the Greater Bay Area, which is seeing an expansion in competitions, club leagues, and stronger links among resorts in Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Zhuhai.
Meanwhile, also on 23 April, the 2026 Mega Ice Hockey 5’s got underway in Hong Kong.
The event is Asia’s biggest ice hockey tournament by team count, drawing 100 teams across youth and adult divisions.