China Expat’s readership hails from across the country. However, at some point or another everyone ends up in Beijing, either on business, travel, or passing through on an international route. The city itself gets almost no snow during its winters, but it does have some beautiful mountains just outside its limits that are worth a look. If you have a hard time believing that just because you cannot usually see them through Beijing’s gray air, a short trip out there will help you realize how much lies just past the capital’s urban exterior. Some of the area ski slopes are surprisingly good, and a delightful way to get out of the city.

Ski resorts around Beijing

Beijing’s surroundings offer a range of nearly 15 ski resorts, including the Qiaobo Indoor skiing in the eastern suburbs. Due to lack of natural snow fall in winter (hey it is one of the driest cities in the world!), all resorts are prepared with man-made snow. Depending on the temperatures, the resorts open at the end of November in the best case scenario, and more typically at the beginning of December. Ski season usually lasts until the end of February, depending on the temperatures.

With a few notable exceptions, ski resorts offer a range of about five slopes with a maximum vertical drop of around 150 meters. Only Jundushan and Shijinglong offer more challenging and longer runs than the average, ho-hum slopes in the area.

All ski resorts around Beijing are suitable for beginners. However, each resort has its own advantages and disadvantages. There are a few points to keep in mind when going to any of these ski areas:

Saturday is the most crowded day, and can be overwhelming at times. If you do not have time during the week, you might want to consider a Sunday ski. There are fewer people, resulting in a more pleasant and safer experience.

Ski resorts always levy an entrance fee which is between 5 and 20 RMB, and even non-skiers have to pay it. Once inside you can rent equipment and a lift pass by the hour, or on a half / full day scale. You have to buy the desired type of ticket before going to pick up your equipment. Unfortunately this means that picking up and dropping off the equipment is counted as skiing time. It is not the greatest set-up, but hey, you take what you can get on a day outing.

Nearly all ski resorts have different categories of equipment. So-called standard equipment is mostly dead, old equipment from Japan or Korea, and often you get gear up to 20 years old. This is not only very uncomfortable for skiing, as they are not carving skis, but bad equipment also considerably increases the risk of failure and possible injury. In addition the skis are poorly maintained (no waxing or preparing of the edges). For a higher price you can rent the newer equipment, which are mostly standard carving skis with a set value (shoes, skis and binding) of 3000 to 3500 RMB. The cost is much greater, but it is easier and safer to ski with them. We highly recommend spending the extra money on the better equipment.

Specific Slopes around Beijing:

Nanshan

Nanshan is the dinosaur of the Beijing ski scene. It does not necessarily offer the best skiing, but they have by far the best marketing and are the most experienced and successful. When talking to expatriates, most know Nanshan, but are unaware of the many other possibilities.

Nanshan offers two main chairlifts which serve two slopes with a vertical drop of less than hundred meters. Slopes are around 500 meters long. The infrastructure is relatively good and quite ideal for beginners. In addition, Nanshan offers a quite challenging mogul slope from the top of the summit, so even expert skiers can have quite a bit of fun.

In addition, they have a small half pipe (which up to date cannot be used by skiers – for reasons unknown), and a snow park consisting of two massive kickers, a wall ride, a few rails, and a car to shred. If you are a skier and you want to hit the park, be aware that the personnel will probably refuse you access (only snowboarders are permitted – for the half-pipe it is more or less understandable, but for rails and kickers this rule is simply ridiculous.) If you still want enjoy some airtime, helps if you tell the personnel you will not sue them if you hurt yourself, and that you use the facilities on your own risk. This, and a little persistence, should do the trick.

Nanshan is accessible with a bit more than an hour car ride from Beijing.

Additional details at:

http://www.NanshanSki.com/

Jundushan

A twenty minute drive from Changping (Exit 13C on the Badaling Expressway), Jundushan is not only one of the closest resorts to Beijing, it also offers the best organized management, a great beginners area, and even a long and challenging slope for advanced and expert skiers. With a vertical drop of nearly 250 meters, and accessibility by a chairlift, it offers a great view of the Beijing plains—if air pollution is not too heavy. With a variety of easy slopes, the terrain is perfect for beginners.

All the rental facilities are pretty well organized, and even the standard equipment includes carving skis. Jundushan’s proximity to Xiaotangshan Spa Resort offers an additional bonus of a nice hot tub after a cold day of skiing.

Jundushan is always especially impressive during the Chinese New Year (Spring Festival). From the summit you can hear the thundering and crackling sounds of the fireworks rising out of the Beijing plain beneath. They noise gives you the feeling of skiing in a war zone—one of those bizarre experiences you can only enjoy in China.

Addtitional details at:

www.BJSki.com.cn

Shjijinglong

Shijinglong ski resort is located in the valley behind the Badaling section of the Great Wall and requires around one and half hours of travel from Beijing. Once you arrive at Badaling village, exit the expressway and drive through the large valley on the other side of the mountain. On good days you will be able to see the slopes from far away, although you may have to be quite a bit closer if Beijing’s famously hazy weather is uncooperative.

Shijinglong offers two chairlifts and another four ski lifts. The slopes are generally very wide and offer pretty decent skiing compared to the other resorts around Beijing. The highest slope is quite narrow, so beginners should stay away from it. However, it offers a good ride for more advanced skiers. From mid-winter Shijinglong also offers a fun park with jumps and rails.

There are three restaurants to choose from: a self-service type on the first floor of the main building, a sit-down style Chinese restaurant on the second floor, and finally a “Western” restaurant, which is farther up and can be accessed either by either skis, or takes about 10 minutes walking.

After skiing, the Ice Festival at nearby Longjing Gorge also offers additional entertainment. A 10-minute drive from the slopes, the Ice Festivals offers Harbin-style ice sculptures, with colorful lighting and some food shacks. It is the perfect way to get a little of that après-ski feeling. Nevertheless, do not expect “Gluehwein” and “Jaegertee.”

Additional details at: www.sjlski.com CE

For more information ask our experts in our ski forum: Chinaexpat.com/ski