Following the arrival of the Beijing 2022 Bid Committee delegation in Kuala Lumpur ahead of the election of the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games host city, the bid offered a taste of the spectacular Games experience - including winter sport at the foot of the iconic Great Wall of China - that would await athletes, fans and all visitors to the Games.
A truly global destination for international travelers, Beijing 2022 will offer a Games with world-class accommodation, efficient transport, diverse gastronomy and endless entertainment, combined with the history and natural beauty of snow sport venues Zhangjiakou and Yanqing.
Renowned as one of the world's top destinations for business and tourism, Beijing enjoys quick and efficient transportation, outstanding hotels, cosmopolitan cuisine and spectacular sightseeing. Last year, Beijing welcomed over 260 million domestic and international tourists.
The IOC requirements for Games-time accommodation - which includes capacity and securing agreement on satisfactory room charge rates - have already been met in full, with 518 star-rated hotels in Beijing providing 110,000 rooms, which provides absolute certainty of being able to adequately host all Games visitors. Beijing is easy to reach with over 70 airlines with 109 international direct-flight destinations.
Mayor of Beijing and President of the Beijing 2022 Bid Committee, Wang Anshun, said: "Beijing is the city with an exceptional history, culture which offers visitors a huge range of entertainment, while Yanqing and Zhangjiakou offer a natural beauty paired with stunning views of the Great Wall which would create a stunning stage to showcase winter sports to audiences around the world. Today, Beijing is set to deliver a Games experience that is truly unique and inspiring."
Modern, quick and efficient transport is a key element of the Beijing 2022 bid. An integral part of the government's Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Intercity Rail Master Plan, the construction of the Beijing-Zhangjiakou high-speed rail link already began last year and will be fully operational by early 2019 and is being delivered independently from the Games. So spectators will be able to enjoy winter sports scenery and the life of a modern cosmopolitan city all in one day.
Yanqing, which is only 20 minutes from Beijing, is part of the Beijing Municipality, but even on its own the county registers a steady annual tourism growth of 4.3% with a rocketing hotel and services development boosted by preparations for the 2019 World Horticultural Expo.
Zhangjiakou, which is just 50 minutes from Beijing, is a rapidly developing winter sports destination which has become very attractive to hotel and resort investment and has been seeing an average annual growth of 28.2% in hotel guest nights over the past three years.
As part of creating a thrilling festival atmosphere for visitors, the Beijing 2022 Games will coincide with the Chinese New Year giving visitors the chance to enjoy the widespread celebrations and festivals. This will include the world-renowned succulent Chinese New Year gastronomy and treats: a truly memorable cultural experience.
