Fresh Powder: China Will Have 450 Ski Resorts in 2015. Here are 22 of the Best Places to Go Skiing in China

Fresh Powder: China Will Have 450 Ski Resorts in 2015. Here are 22 of the Best Places to Go Skiing in China
Nov 25, 2015 By August Hatch , eChinacities.com

China’s skiing industry has exploded from almost nothing at the beginning of this century. The country’s rising middle class has made snow sports a fast-growing pastime for families and athletes. And now that Beijing has won the bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics, China’s fascination with skiing is poised to make the sport practically commonplace in the northern regions.

Skiing is still a sport for the top one percent of wealthy people in China, according to the China Ski Association, but between now and the Olympic Games, China aims to get 300 million people on skis. To do that, dozens of ski resorts around the country are opening or expanding. They can’t yet compete with western resorts when it comes to scenery, service standards, safety, and slope quality, but competition between resorts is raising the bar fast.

Save the frigid northernmost parts of China, most ski resorts must supplement their arid mountains with artificial snow machines. That creates a harder surface to fall on which, combined with throngs of novice skiers hitting the slopes for the first time, can make skiing in China a dangerous endeavor. The government is spending tens of millions of dollars on water-diversion schemes to satisfy Olympic demand, pumping water from underground to put fresh powder on the mountain face. Ski resorts now compete with golf courses--golf being another popular sport among China’s elite--for water resources.

China’s ski resorts emulate those of western countries. In addition to the lifts and pistes, they have shops, hotels and restaurants that cater to their upper-class customers. A day-long pass at most Chinese resorts typically costs less than you would pay in the Rocky Mountains or Swiss Alps, but it’s still expensive by most Chinese standards. Before the middle class expansion that began in the 1990s, China’s winters sports were limited to ice skating.

This year, China is expected to boast a total of 450 ski resorts. To help narrow your search, we’ve compiled a list of 22 reputable resorts across the country for your perusal, from the premier destinations in the icy north to the convenient slopes just outside major cities.

All prices are weekend rates when available, but you can save some money by going during the week. Prices may not include equipment rental or deposits. It’s usually best to book in advance. For resorts that don’t have websites, we’ve included phone numbers.

Harbin

1) Yabuli Ski Resort

Location: Southeast of Yabuli Town, Shangzhi 150600, Heilongjiang Province
地址:150600亚布力镇东南
Website: http://www.yabuliski.cn/
Price: 10 RMB admission, 140 RMB (2 hours), 280 RMB (half day), 380 RMB (full day)
Season: November-March
Skill Level: Intermediate and Advanced
Get there: Take the "Skiing Special Train" at 8 a.m. from Harbin East Railway Station to reach the resort.

Description: Yabuli is the largest ski resort in China, located a 2.5-hour train ride southeast of Harbin. Yabuli hosted the 1996 Winter Asian Games, the 2008 National Winter Games and the 2009 Winter Universiade. It also has China’s largest ski jumping facilities.

More Harbin Ski Resorts >>

Chengdu

1) Xiling Snow Mountain Ski Resort

Location: Xiling Snow Mountain Ski Field , Xiling Town, Dayi County 611346. About 120 kilometers west of Chengdu, Sichuan Province.
地址:  成都四川611346西岭镇 
Website: http://www.xiling.cn/syssource/mainpage/Enweb/main.html
Price: 160 RMB (1 hour), 280 RMB (3 hours)
Season: December to March
Skill Level: All level
Get there: Take direct buses from Chadianzi and Xinnanmen Bus Stations to Xiling Snow Mountain. The buses depart from 08:50 to 09:40 from Chadianzi Bus Station and cost 28 Yuan per person. There is only one bus from Xinnanmen Bus Station, which departs at 09:00 and costs 32 Yuan.

Description: Xiling features seven pistes for a total of 10 kilometers of China’s best alpine skiing. Snowmobiles are also available for rent.

More Chengdu Ski Resorts >>

Beijing

1) Nanshan Ski Village

Location: Nanshan Ski Village, Shengshuitou Village, Miyun County, Beijing
地址; 北京密云河南寨镇圣水头村, 南山滑雪场)
Website: http://www.nanshanski.com/english/index.htm
Price: 240 RMB (3 hours), 280 RMB (4 hours), 390 RMB (full day)
Season: December-March
Skill Level: All levels
Get there: Special direct buses leave from the parking lot near Home Link real estate in the Fortune Times building daily at 08:30, and take approximately 50 minutes. The shuttle leaves Nanshan at 17:30 for Beijing and costs 40 RMB round-trip. Seats should be booked at least a day in advance, call 8909 1909 for info. Or, take the shuttle leaving from the east gate of Huaqing Jiayuan in Wudaokou (五道口华清嘉园东门), also leaving at 8:30 and returning at 17:30.

Description: Possibly the most popular ski resort in northern China, featuring 21 slopes made mostly of artificial snow. Sleds, snowmobiles, toboggans, and hang gliders are also available.

More Beijing Ski Resorts >>

Tianjin

1) Yulong Ski Resort

Location: Yulong Ski Resort, next to Jinwei Gong Lu, Hongshuizhuang Village, Luozhuang Township, Ji County, Tianjin
地址:天津市近郊蓟县罗庄镇洪水庄村津围公路旁, 玉龙滑雪场
Phone: +86 22 2272 8166
Season: December-March
Price: 20 RMB admission, 110 RMB(4 hours), 140 RMB (full day)
Skill Level: novice, intermediate
Get there: take a bus from Tianjin Hebei Coach Station (天津河北客运站) leaving every 15 minutes from 6:00-19:00 to Ji County Coach Station (蓟县客运站) then taxi to Yulong Ski Resort (玉龙滑雪场).

Description: Tianjin's first large-scale ski resort. Also rents inner tubes for non-skiers.

More Tianjin Ski Resorts >>

Changchun

1) Jingyuetan Ski Resort

Location: Inside Jingyuetan National Forest Pak, Nanguan District, Changchun
地址: 长春市南关区净月潭国家森林公园内
Phone: 0431 8451 8000
Price: 30 yuan admission, 100 RMB (2 hours)
Season: November-February
Skill Level: All levels
Get there:  A taxi from the city directly to the resort should only cost you around 30 RMB and special shuttle buses from People’s Square transports customers to the resort during the peak season.

Description: Boasts one of the longest slopes in China. Convenient for a day trip from Changchun city center. Set in a beautiful national park with a cafe, shops, and restaurants.

More Changchun Ski Resorts >>

Shanghai/Hangzhou

1) Qiaobo Ice and Snow World

Location:  2168 Conan Avenue, Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province
地址: 浙江省柯桥区柯岩街道柯南大道2168号
Website: http://www.qbski.com/sxqb/english/index.asp
Price: 330 RMB (4 hours)
Season: Year-round
Skill Level: Novice
Get there: From Hangzhou, take Keqiao Shaoxing Expressway. Exit onto Keqiao Avenue South, then turn onto Conan Avenue.

Description: Qiaobo Ice and Snow World is a large-scale indoor ski hall that’s open year-round. The main slope is 200 meters long and 40 meters wide, with a steeper, longer piste for more advanced skiers. It also has a snow park for children and luxury hotel room if you need accomodation.

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Keywords: pander China ski snowboard China ski resort

5 Comments

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Pineappletree1

The black snow is better because you have to pay more money to ski on it. You must also drive, at a minimum, a BMW with less than 50,000km to the slops. You must also operate the vehicle upon arrival as if Huangdi is arriving. (Pay special attention to not letting pedestrians cross the road. If you ski on black snow, you are the most important person in the world.)

Nov 30, 2015 13:09 Report Abuse

silverbutton1

Noted. black snow skier = elite. har har.

Dec 01, 2015 01:49 Report Abuse

umzung

Looking forward to winter!

Nov 29, 2015 11:33 Report Abuse

bill8899

I love skiing. I can ski all day and get up early to ski the next day. Just love it.

Nov 28, 2015 11:22 Report Abuse

Guest2650392

Fresh powder from polluted air. Take a deep breath, enjoy. http://sinosphere.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/10/21/air-pollution-hits-harbin-in-northeast-china-closing-schools-and-roads/?_r=0

Nov 26, 2015 07:23 Report Abuse