Winter sports are enjoying a burst of popularity in Shanghai, even though the city receives only one or two dustings of snow a year. For people from colder climates, skating on the eighth floor of a shopping mall or skiing indoors in an industrial district might seem to be missing the original spirit of winter pursuits.
But rising incomes have given Shanghai residents new alternatives: the rink and the slopes.
The Super Brand Mall recently opened the city's fourth skating rink. Of the other three, two are indoors while the third is outdoors, placed over a public swimming pool in winter.
At the mall, the ice-cleaning Zamboni machine and Abba music piped over the loudspeakers during the public skating session are authentic enough. But the venue is about half the size of a regulation hockey rink, and there are two posts in the corners, which can be hazardous.
For 60 yuan, customers can stay for two hours with rented skates - hockey skates for people with large feet and figure skates for others. The venue also sells socks and gloves. 'Everyone must wear gloves,' the counter attendant said. The reason: something to cushion the inevitable fall.
On the ice, as far as the eye can see, is a conga line of novice skaters clinging to the boards as they hobble around the oval-shaped rink in pursuit of fun. The centre is occupied by attendants showing off for the shopping mall crowds and youngsters learning to figure skate under the instruction of expensive coaches paid for by their parents. A handful of expatriates, some obviously ex-hockey players, try to impress their girlfriends.
