Beijing’s traditional winter pastime is getting a smart upgrade, with an AI service bot improving operations and visitor experiences at the Summer Palace Ice Rink, the city’s largest natural ice surface.

Spanning about 160,000 square metres, roughly the size of 90 standard ice hockey rinks, the open rink has drawn crowds of all ages to enjoy ice bikes and sleds. Families have brought relatives from southern parts of China, where snow is rare, to experience skating for the first time. Senior visitors say returning to the ice brings back childhood memories, while friends from different cities have travelled to Beijing after planning their trips weeks in advance.

To keep nearly 10,000 daily visitors moving smoothly, the Summer Palace has introduced an AI service bot named Xiao Yi. The digital assistant provides real-time answers on ‘opening hours, ticket information’ and other visitor queries, helping ensure a well-organised and enjoyable experience on and off the ice.

Source: China Central Television