If you did not know, China has loads of ski resorts since the Beijing Winter Olympics
Research
The internet is a huge resource for your next ski holiday and the biggest resource standing in your way is the China firewall and the language barrier. If you do not understand Mandarin, you will have a small hurdle researching ski resorts and hotel locations in China but this will not stop you from putting in the effort and using Google Translate or ChatGPT to translate the information. What would stop you in your tracks is the internet firewall that exists in China. It will block individuals from getting information into China but also stop information from getting out. Without using Chinese APPs like WeChat or Baidu, you will literally not get much information on Google Maps and the internet in general.
You will need to know the internal platforms and sites where you can get the information and we will create a post on our site when we understand more about this country that recently hosted the Winter Olympics which built and invested huge amounts of money into this industry. We will also list a bunch of information for you at the bottom of this post to assist you in your research into China.
We highly recommend checking out Clubmed for an all-inclusive ski holiday in China which was what we initially wanted to do but got derailed by the desire to check out the winter Olympic town which opened in 2022.
Booking
Booking a hotel in Beijing has been tough unless you are looking for mainstream hotels. Most hotels open for booking a few weeks before the date which means that you would only be able to book a hotel closer to the date of the trip. Using CTrip to check out local hotels and WeChat to get recommendations for your trip are a few tools you will need to get hotel information.
If you are like me, I open google maps all the time and get information from this resource for all my travels. For a trip like China, it is almost impossible to get any information about the country and the replacement for this would be Baidu which is one of the most resourceful APPs in China for any travel related. It will be my replacement for Google Maps for sure.
Wechat / ALIPAY
Get a WeChat account! Almost everything is in WeChat, from booking a hotel to buying lift pass tickets. Everything uses a digital wallet. Cash may be king but before your trip, prepare this account for you to communicate with locals and pay for any potential transactions.
Ski Resorts in the Country
China has several ski resorts that have gained popularity since the Winter Olympics in 2022. Before you plan for a ski trip, always have the ski trip at the end of the trip.
Some Ski Travel Planning Tips
#1: Always plan your trip so that you do activities first before skiing, a ski injury will ruin your trip if you plan to visit Universal Studios after your ski activity
#2: Skiing is an exercise, get into shape! Start exercising and making sure your muscles are ready for an adventure sport
#3:
Here are some of the notable locations you can research on:
- Yabuli International Ski Resort (Heilongjiang Province)
- The largest and most developed ski resort in China, known for its variety of slopes and winter sports facilities.
- Nanshan Ski Resort (Beijing)
- Located near Beijing, it’s a popular choice for both beginners and experienced skiers, featuring diverse runs and snowboarding areas.
- Gulmarg Ski Resort (Xinjiang)
- Known for its stunning scenery and excellent powder snow, Gulmarg offers off-piste skiing and a unique alpine experience.
- Changbaishan International Resort (Jilin Province)
- This resort is situated near the famous Changbai Mountain, offering beautiful landscapes and a range of winter activities.
- Harbin Ice and Snow Festival (Heilongjiang Province)
- While not a ski resort per se, the festival features ice sculptures and winter sports, making it a popular winter destination.
- Zhangjiakou Ski Resort (Hebei Province)
- Part of the site for the 2022 Winter Olympics, this resort has modern facilities and a variety of slopes.
- Wanfenglin Ski Resort (Guizhou Province)
- A smaller but charming resort set in beautiful karst landscapes, perfect for a unique skiing experience.
These resorts cater to different skill levels and offer various amenities, one thing is certain in China is that most of the snow is man-made which is very different from resorts in Japan which isn’t that far away. Japan has one of the best snowfalls in the world but has a huge influx of tourists which may result in long chairlift queues. If you are a first-timer, we recommend checking out China if the language barrier isn’t too big of an issue for you.
Resource
Clubmed China: https://www.clubmed.com.sg/d/asian-mountains/china
CTrip: https://www.ctrip.com/
Baidu Maps: https://map.baidu.com/
