This summer saw record-breaking global temperatures, and in the faux Alpine square where the resort’s opening ceremony took place, the temperature had already reached 30°C (86°F) by 09:00 CST. Inside the resort, however, temperatures dropped below freezing, as visitors swapped sunglasses and T-shirts for padded overalls, with some sporting designer goggles or quirky helmets.

At the top of the slope, snowboarder Jessica Zhang remained unfazed by the August heat record. "When it comes to climate, I feel like you get ups and downs in temperature, maybe every few years a hottest year comes along," she said.

This year is on track to become the Earth’s hottest on record, surpassing 2023, according to the EU’s climate monitor. China, the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, has also made strides as a leader in renewable energy.

As global temperatures rise, traditional outdoor skiing destinations are facing the effects of climate change, with shrinking ice and snow. "In China, it might have more of an effect in the north... some of the snow parks just aren't operating well, they're shrinking," said 48-year-old skier Zhang Jin. "Instead, it's this kind of thing that's opening up, larger indoor ones, which I think is still pretty good."

Despite the warming climate, China’s ski industry continues to thrive, driven by government support and rising interest from the middle class, especially after Beijing hosted the 2022 Winter Olympics. The country now leads the world in indoor ski resort construction, with half of the top 10 largest resorts by snow area located in China, according to Daxue Consulting.

On Friday, Shanghai's L*SNOW Indoor Skiing Theme Resort was certified by Guinness World Records as the largest indoor ski resort, surpassing the previous record-holder in Harbin, China. The nearly 100,000-square-meter complex, designed to resemble a glacier, stands in coastal Lingang, about 1.5 hours from the city center. Inside, visitors are transported by chairlifts, cable cars, and even a green and red "steam train" to the resort’s four ski slopes and various attractions.

"There were no ski resorts around Shanghai before, and no way to practice in the summer. But now I have the opportunity... so I’m quite happy," snowboarder Cynthia Zhang told AFP before heading down the slopes.

A Shanghai government report acknowledged that projects like this "will inevitably consume a lot of energy." Resort executive Yin Kang explained that maintaining subzero temperatures requires 72 cooling machines and 33 snow-making machines running continuously.

The report noted that the resort was designed to maximise energy reuse, incorporating features like ice storage and waste-heat recovery systems. Over three-quarters of the resort’s rooftop is covered with solar panels to help offset its carbon footprint. "We have taken a lot of energy-saving measures," Yin told AFP.

The resort's opening had been delayed several times, with its original completion date set for 2019. Its soft opening has faced challenges, including an accident in which a guest allegedly severed a finger, prompting the resort to increase safety measures, as reported by state media earlier this week.