The unusually warm winter has forced 4 small ski resorts outside of Beijing to close. 

With the closing of the Jingdong Grand Canyon, Pinggu Liyuan, Fragrant Hill and Lingshan ski resorts, the total number of ski hills around Beijing has been reduced to 10.

The small resorts have been forced to close due to insufficient funding and high maintenance fees.

Lager ski hills are also facing problems due to high temperatures and lack of natural snow cover.

(CRIENGLISH.com December 11, 2004)