China’s Ski Slopes Pull Big Crowds as Japan Tensions Run High

Chen Yang and her family have in recent years flown from China’s Guangdong province to Japan for an annual ski trip to Hokkaido. This season, she canceled their trip and will stay home instead, hitting northeast China’s slopes amid rising political tensions between the two countries.

“As an ordinary Chinese person, I can’t do much but can at least cancel my skiing trip to protest,” the 42-year-old said. “Hokkaido is uniquely beautiful, but for skiing itself, I can find alternatives in China.”