Feature: How skiing has changed perceptions of winter in NW China

YINCHUAN, China, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Looking at the snowy slopes of the ski resort melting under warmer sunshine, Ma Zhi felt at lost as he had to wait for months until the next snow season.

"We used to have nothing to do in the dry and freezing winters except stay at home. Since the ski resort was established near our village, I have begun to look forward to winter each year," said Ma, a villager from Xingsheng