WHERE TO SKI IN CHINA?

Skiing in China is that even a thing?? Did you know you could ski in China? Have you ever wondered about the best place to ski in China? Well, look no further here are the answers…

In 2022, Beijing will host the Winter Olympics, which will put China's ski scene on the world map for the first time.

Most people don't even know that you can ski in China, so, when I moved to Beijing I decided to check out the local skiing for myself.

I discovered that there is hardly any information about skiing in China online, so I hope that this guide about ‘Where to ski in China?’ - and the video I made to accompany it - will help you to have a great ski holiday in China this Winter!

Resort Options

There are a number of different ski resorts close to Beijing. Most people head to Nanshan Ski Resort for the day, as it’s the closest, but its slopes are somewhat limited.

If you fancy a weekend or longer skiing in the Chinese mountains, then it is worth venturing slightly further afield. We travelled to the resort town of Chongli, which is close to Beijing’s co-host city Zhangjiakou, where many of the 2022 Olympic ski events will be held to see if this area has more to offer to serious ski enthusiasts.

There are many ski resorts dotted throughout Chongli valley and unfortunately, unlike many resorts in Europe, they are not linked and you have to pay separately for each day pass - so it is worth knowing which is the best for you!

I have skied in two of the most popular resorts in this area - Wanlong and Fulong Village. They are about 20 minutes’ drive from each other.

Getting There

*Option 1 - You can travel to both by taking the train from Beijing to the nearby city Zhangjiakou and then taking a bus or taxi to Chongli or Wanlong. They are currently building a high-speed railway line which will cut the journey time to less than an hour when it opens.

*Option 2 -You can take a direct bus from Beijing (The ticket booking website is in Chinese, so you might need to enlist the help of a Chinese speaking friend).

*Option 3 - You can hire a private driver if there is a group of you to take you straight to the slopes.

We have tried all of the above options and all are doable - it really depends on how much time you have and how much you are willing to pay.

Ski Rental

Both Wanlong and Fulong ski resorts have rental shops at the foot of the slopes where you can rent all the gear you need to hit the slopes. Not only can you find skis, boots and poles but you can also rent clothing, helmets and goggles.

The cost of renting the clothing is quite low and the skis etc. are often included in the price of the ski pass. As Fulong is a bit of a newer hill, the equipment is in slightly better condition and the staff are far more helpful than in Wanlong and there are even a few English speakers among the staff who can come to your aid if you get stuck.

The system is, however, a little flawed, as there are separate counters for each item of equipment so it can take a little time to get everything you need. Make sure you get there early so it doesn’t cut into your time skiing too much.

If you have your own transport, then you could always try scouring the ski rental shops in Chongli town, as I think the kit maybe a little fancier at some of the specialist shops here. If you need to pick up any thermals, gloves or other accessories before your trip, then most Chinese cities have a Uniqlo or Decathlon store.

Where to stay

Wanlong

Zhangjiakou Wanlong Ski Resort International Apartment - This hotel offers a wide range of rooms of differing sizes. The rooms are clean and comfortable. Includes breakfast which is buffet style and contains many different options. The restaurant for evening meals is a little overpriced and of average quality.

Fulong

There are many choices in Chongli but by far the best is the Holiday Inn Resort. The rooms are big and beautiful and some even offer a bath to soak your tired muscles in at the end of the day. Includes breakfast which is buffet style and contains many different options. You can also get the ski pass included in your room which makes it even cheaper.

Both hotels can offer arrange ski passes at the hotel to save you time.

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Price

Wanlong - is about ¥790 a day for everything and more expensive on holidays.

Fulong - is cheaper and we got a deal with our hotel so we paid about ¥400 a day.

Which one is for you?

Wanlong

Wanlong is very much a destination resort, in the Western sense of the word and it is located a few miles up the valley from Chongli. We stayed right at the foot of the slopes which was really convenient. The lift system is good and while there are lots of different choices of runs available, I would say that advanced and adventurous intermediate skiers are best catered for. The mountains in this part of China tend to be quite barren, but as Wanlong has been welcoming skiers for a decade or so, the trees which were planted to give it a European feel are more mature than in other resorts and give the ski hill a prettier feel.

Wanlong’s off-slope facilities are pretty limited, with only one restaurant at the top and a couple of snack bars at the bottom. The hotels at the foot of the slopes also offer a limited choice of food. (Normally just the hotel’s own restaurant)

Pros

The long runs are much more enjoyable here, but it is better if you are more of an intermediate/advanced skier.

The lift system is comprised of both chairlifts and gondolas, which are good for those cold days – the thermometer regularly plunges below -20C in midwinter.

More beautiful scenery.

Hotels at the bottom so you can ski in and out easily.

Great if you just want to ski and go to bed.

Lots of runs to keep you busy for a day or two.

Cons

The beginner’s slope is not very long and there is only one real green run for beginners to progress onto.

Food was limited, as was the apres-ski.

Not much choice of hotels unless you want to travel from Chongli everyday.

More expensive.

Fulong Village

Fulong Ski Resort is so close to the town of Chongli, that if you choose to stay near the slopes, you could easily head into town for an evening meal. I wouldn’t recommend staying in the town and walking to the hill with your skis each day - you are better off driving or taking a taxi as it is a touch too far to traipse in ski boots.

This area is new and is still very much being developed so no doubt it will expand a lot before the winter Olympics arrive. While it still has a few teething problems, Fulong Ski Resort has excellent customer service and everybody is very enthusiastic about making this resort a success.

Pros

Great for mixed-ability groups and families. There are a few bunny slopes and also a magic carpet which goes quite far up the mountain which means beginners can progress to a long easy green run as they grow in confidence.

The modern lift system is still being expanded, so the resort will only get better.

The slopes are quite varied both in terms of difficulty and length.

The food choices are great – there is a food court at the bottom and a restaurant at the top of the mountain.

More hotel choices, as you can also stay in the town as the distance between the two is minimal.

Lots to do off the slopes – from family activities in the large complex at the bottom of the slopes, to apres-ski in the nearby town.

Newer equipment and nicer staff.

Cheaper.

Easier to get to.

Cons

Some of the infrastructure is still being built and not every planned lift is up and running yet.

The area has quite an industrial feel as it is nearer to the town. It looks like they are trying to plant trees to the side of the slopes, so the scenery will probably be more pleasing in a few years’ time.

Although there are many runs, including some steeper ones at the top of the mountain, they are quite short and all seem to join one of several long, flat runs midway down the mountain which lead back to the lifts and can be a little tedious.

Conclusion

Our experience

Before we organised our trips we found it hard to find information online about the different resorts. The first time we visited the area, we thought we were heading to another resort called Genting but it turns out that this is actually quite far from Chongli. If you are short of time and don’t have your own car then I would definitely recommend these two as they are the easiest to get to. Hopefully, as the Olympics approach, there will be more English language information available online.

Would I recommend skiing in China?

Chinese ski resorts offer quite a different experience to the places I have visited in Europe and are not quite of the same standard. The Chongli ski resorts are still a lot of fun and a trip here is quite the adventure.

As it is not too far from Beijing it is really easy and relatively cheap to get to, but not all that cheap in the resorts themselves. It’s great for a weekend but I wouldn’t spend much longer here.

I think that overall, China still has a long way to come to compete with the likes of neighbouring Japan as a ski destination in Asia, but in the coming years, it could become a force to be reckoned with!

Check out the video I made about skiing in Fulong, Chongli and feel free to ask me any questions you may have about skiing in China!

*All this information was true at the time of writing in winter 2018, like many places in China things change fast. So, if you end up making the trip to Chongli then get in touch if you have any additional info that you think should be included in this guide.

Here are some of my favourite skiing accessories.

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