The first Chinese company to set its sights on real estate development in Lapland, Nova-Roi, has begun construction of a small village's worth of Finnish-style cabins in Rovaniemi.
The company says it will first build seven semi-detached houses and a customer service centre. Work on the foundations began in late October.
Nova-Roi intends to finish construction of its series of cabins by next autumn. The company's vice CEO Tian Zhang says the miniature village may also be expanded if the demand arises.
Earlier in October Zhang said she believed that Chinese visitors to Lapland are more likely to want to sleep in traditional cottages than in hotels.
"Chinese cities are so densely populated that peaceful, homey accommodations are something really special for people travelling here from China," she said in October.
Zhang says that the cottages will be marketed to all holidaymakers, Chinese or otherwise. The village has yet to be officially named.
The cabin land rented by Nova-Roi is situated in the Napapiiri area of Rovaniemi, behind the recreational centre Snow World.
