Datong City, Shanxi Province, north China - Feb 18, 2018
1. Various of people skiing, snowboarding
2. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) skier (no name given):
"I came here with my family, and I didn't expect so many visitors. People are changing their lifestyles now. In the past, we would probably just spend the holiday eating, drinking or playing cards."
3. Various of people skiing
4. Skiers taking selfie
5. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) skier (no name given):
"We used to come here for dining, drinking and karaoke. Now more and more people prefer to go outdoors. This ski resort was just completed this year. It is great."
6. Various of child snowboarding
7. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) skier (no name given)(starting with shot 6):
"I came here with my son. Although he falls down sometimes, we still feel happy doing this together."
8. Various of visitors, ski equipment
9. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) skier (no name given):
"Spring Festival is a time for reunion. So we found something we all like and came here. Skiing together helps to improve our relationship."
10. Children learning how to ski
11. Ski resort

An increasing number of Chinese people are choosing to spend the week-long Spring Festival holiday at ski resorts instead of at restaurants and entertainment rooms, creating a boom for China's nascent ski industry.

A resort in the city of Datong in north China's Shanxi Province has received around 4,000 visitors a day since the festival started -- five times more than usual.

The growing popularity of winter sports in China is changing the way many middle class families spend their holiday.

"I came here with my family, and I didn't expect so many visitors. People are changing their lifestyles now. In the past, we would probably just spend the holiday eating, drinking or playing cards," said a visitor.

"We used to come here for dining, drinking and karaoke. Now more and more people prefer to go outdoors. This ski resort was just finished this year. It is great," said another visitor.

Many skiers and snowboarders out on the slopes say spending a day on the mountain is a great way to connect with family.

"I came here with my son. Although he falls down sometimes, we still feel happy doing this together," said a father at the ski resort.

"Spring Festival is a time for reunion. So we found something we all like and came here. Skiing together helps to improve our relationship," said another visitor who came with his family.

Ski resort officials say the number of recreational skiers across the country has soared in recent years.

After China won the bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympics, the number of visitors to many ski resorts has seen an annual increase of around 30 percent.