China House opens in Sochi

China House, the Chinese Olympic Committee's center to receive guests, opened in Sochi on Thursday, as a place for cultural communication during the Sochi Winter Olympic Games.

The China House, located on the second floor of Zhemchuzhina hotel on the Black Sea coast, will function as a reception center as well as a showcase of Chinese culture and sport achievements.

The House, in a red theme, is decorated with huge pictures of Chinese Winter Olympic champions including short track speed skater Yang Yang, 2002 Salt Lake champion, 2010 Games figure skating winning pair Shen Xue/Zhao Hongbo and four-time short track Olympic champion Wang Meng, who will not be able to defend her three titles from Vancouver due to a double fracture in her right ankle.

As Beijing and Zhang Jiakou are bidding for the 2022 Winter Games, officials from the two cities will promote their bid here. For a start, a model of Zhangjiakou's snow event competition venues has been put in the hall.

It is the second time that the Chinese Olympic Committee set up such a place at the Winter Olympic Games.