Beijing's traditional winter pastime is getting a digital upgrade, with AI service bots enhancing operations and improving visitor experience on Beijing’s biggest natural ice surface -- the Summer Palace Ice Rink.

People of all ages and from different places have had fun riding ice bikes and ice sleds on the open area of the Summer Palace Ice Rink, which covers 160,000 square meters, or roughly the size of 90 standard ice hockey rinks.

A local family took a relative coming from southern Chinese regions, which see less or even no snow, to experience ice-skating.

A senior citizen said he is glad to ice-skate again, as it reminds him of his childhood.

Two friends said they traveled along to meet and have fun together, and planned the tour half a month in advance.

To keep nearly 10,000 visitors enjoying the ice in an orderly way, the tourist attraction has introduced an AI service bot named Xiao Yi, which provides real-time answers on park reservations, the fastest way onto the ice, and everything visitors need to know. The AI-empowered service is also accessible on mobile phones.

"She answers visitors' inquiries -- about park opening hours, ticket information, boat tour Information, temporary exhibitions, major events and more," said Bai Enjuan, director of Information Department Administration of Summer Palace.