People in the Economic and Technological Development Zone, in Urumqi city, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region will be able to experience snow and ice sports near their homes by the middle of January. The snow and ice slides are under construction in Small Green Valley, an ecological park, and once completed visitors can go sledging, skating, or try snow surfing, according to Xinjiang Municipal Gardens Co.

An 18-meter-long elephant shaped double-track ice slide was finished by Jan 4 and workers are installing protective facilities. An outdoor skating rink will be built in the park’s largest lake.

Besides the sports programs, snow sculptures and designs featuring the athletes of the 13th National Winter Game will also be on view for the visitors.

With nearly three million yuan ($457,500) of investment, the ice and snow program will open to the public from 10:00 to 21:00 from the middle of January, said Ma Chuanfei, manager of Xinjiang Municipal Gardens Co.