Italy's Olympic venue a pacesetter for Chinese resorts

Nestled deep in a valley in the Italian Alps near the Swiss border, the ski town of Livigno has introduced itself to the world as a perfect winter sports venue and an alpine wonderland thanks to exposure from the Olympics.

With sunlight bathing wooden villas, glistening frosty rooftops, fresh snow drifting across the cobbled main street and slopes lined with pine trees, Livigno evokes a fairytale setting in Italy's tranquil and isolated northern Alps.

But once the Olympic events started last week, sleepy Livigno, about 220 kilometers north of Milan, sprang to life. Swarms of spectators cheered on competitors at the foot of the slopes, while ski crowds crammed bistros, cafes and shops in the neon-lit streets at night — the entire town suddenly pulsated with energy.

The Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games have shed the international spotlight on the quiet ski town, which was little known to the global audience until this week.

Adorned in Olympic colors, the Mottolino Fun Mountain resort in the heart of the town is playing host to freestyle skiing and snowboarding — two of the most popular events with younger generations.

The arrival of international winter sports stars, such as China's freeski sensation Gu Ailing and the United States' snowboarding superstar Chloe Kim, has drawn a massive crowd of fans, media staff, broadcasting crews and sponsors, despite the long travel time from the nearest urban center in Milan. It takes at least four hours by train and then by bus to reach the resort located at an altitude of over 1,800 meters.

After winning a silver medal in men's big air on Saturday, China's snowboarding prodigy Su Yiming said, "I really appreciate the crowd's support today."

"The energy they gave me was huge, and the atmosphere at this venue feels so electrifying. I like the entire vibe here," he said.