NW China's Qinghai turns cold weather into hot economic growth

China's only high-altitude curling rink, located at the Duoba National Highland Sports Training Base in Xining, northwest China's Qinghai Province, is helping athletes boost their endurance as they prepare for national and international competitions.

The Qinghai stop of the 2025 China Momentum Large-Scale Media Research Tour opens in northwest China's Qinghai Province, June 23, 2025. (People's Daily Online/Zhang Liyang)

At 2,400 meters above sea level, the facility provides unique training conditions, where athletes focus intently as they release curling stones and teammates sweep with precision to guide their paths.

The venue serves as both a training hub and a top competition site, hosting major events such as the Chinese Curling League and international tournaments in recent years. Open to the public year-round, the rink makes the sport more accessible and helps athletes reach new levels of performance.

The curling rink at the Duoba National Highland Sports Training Base in Xining, northwest China's Qinghai Province. (People's Daily Online/Ma Kexin)

Meanwhile, at a strawberry farm in Xibao town, Huangzhong district, Xining, millions of strawberries ripen slowly in the cool summer nights. With altitudes ranging from 2,200 to 2,600 meters, the area enjoys a golden growing season for strawberries that few other places can match.

From June to August, while strawberries in other regions are out of season, Huangzhong’s crop takes center stage. Vacuum pre-cooling technology preserves their freshness, and refrigerated trucks operate around the clock to deliver these highland strawberries to major cities within 48 hours.

Strawberries at a farm in Xibao town, Huangzhong district in Xining, northwest China's Qinghai Province. (People's Daily Online/Kuang Yu)

Xining is home to a diverse mix of ethnic groups, including Han, Tibetan, Hui, Tu and Salar, contributing to a rich blend of cultures. This fusion has produced a wealth of intangible cultural heritage. The city has 13 intangible cultural heritage items at the national level, 48 at the provincial level, 57 at the municipal level and 275 at the district and county levels.

A lively street scene in Xining, northwest China's Qinghai Province. (People's Daily Online/Wang Shaoshao)