Ski resorts in China: step-by-step guide
In the first part of our review, we present five top ski resorts in China, located in Harbin, Changbaishan, Jilin, and near Beijing. Each is unique in its own way, offering excellent skiing conditions for both beginners and experts. Breathtaking scenery and a variety of slopes make these resorts ideal for winter vacations. And this is just the beginning—we will soon publish the second part of our guide to the best ski resorts in China.
Yabuli Ski Resort in Harbin
Skiing season: from mid-November to late March.Yabuli Ski Resort comprises over 10 smaller resorts spread across three mountains, with elevations ranging from 1,000 to 1,374 meters. Among them, the most popular is Sun Mountain Resort, where China’s first Club Med opened. Other resorts in Yabuli tend to be crowded. They have older equipment or less interesting pistes.
Yabuli’s greatest asset is its diversity. You can ski on 49 pistes across three mountains in a single day without ever leaving the resort grounds.
Highlights: The first ski resort to open in China. Many rankings call it the best in the country. It was also here that the first Club Med opened.
How to get there: 1.5 hours by train or 3 hours by car from Harbin.
Vertical drop: 918 m.
Pistes: 49 pistes (7 for beginners, 25 for intermediates, 10 for advanced, and 7 for experts).
Facilities: high-speed heated gondolas, chairlifts.
Snowboarding: The 2016 World Snowboarding Championships were held here.
Direct access to pistes: yes.
Suitable for: everyone, especially experienced skiers.
Other activities besides skiing:
Thanks to the resort’s convenient location near Harbin, you can combine skiing with a visit to the Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival (the world’s largest winter festival). A two-hour drive away is the fairytale world of China Snow Town, a popular winter destination with the most abundant snowfall and the largest package of winter activities (non-sports related) in China.
Jilin Wanda Changbaishan Ski Resort
Skiing season: from mid-November to April.Changbaishan Ski Resort is more like a snow amusement park. It’s perfectly designed for winter vacations. Importantly, the hotels here are of high quality. While there are hostels available, you’ll also find luxurious “six-star” palaces. Warm-up instructors, ski assistants, and safety personnel are available to help you (free of charge) enjoy the friendly and relaxing winter atmosphere.
The most challenging run at the resort is the Heilong (“Black Dragon”) piste, with a maximum gradient of 36.7°. From the top, it looks more like a ski jump. Tip: It’s best to ski in the morning. By later in the day, sunlight can turn the snow into a solid crust of ice as it gets packed down by thrill-seekers.
How to get there: direct flights from Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Changchun, Xi’an, and Harbin.
Highlights: The second-largest ski resort in China, it offers a crater-shaped maze of pistes protected from the wind.
Location: 30 minutes by free shuttle bus from Changbaishan Airport (IATA code: NBS).
Vertical drop: 390 m.
Pistes: 43 pistes (20 for beginners, 14 for intermediates, and 9 for advanced).
Facilities: 5 chairlifts, 2 high-speed heated gondolas, and 12 magic carpets (beginner lifts).
Direct access to pistes: yes.
Night skiing: 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Suitable for: everyone, especially beginners and intermediates, as well as families and friends looking for a fun winter activity.
This is what a “magic carpet” looks like—it’s a conveyor lift for the most novice skiers.
Other activities besides skiing:
Be sure to visit the local “ski town”. It’s a self-contained “resort within a resort,” featuring restaurants, shops, a movie theater, karaoke, and a hot spring. It’s a great spot for both skiers and snowboarders, as well as non-skiers.
The café at the top of the main mountain is the most popular spot. Grab a table, enjoy a cup of coffee at sunset, and take in the breathtaking views of the snowy kingdom.
A visit to Changbaishan Nature Reserve is a must. This is the only place in China where you can go rafting on a hot river surrounded by stunning frost on both sides. Don’t worry about getting wet; the water freezes as soon as it touches the rubber raft.
If you have 7 days or more, it’s worth taking a road trip from Harbin to Changbaishan, passing through China Snow Town and Jingpo Lake to experience the local winter fishing.
Beidahu Ski Resort (Jilin)
Skiing season: from mid-November to April.Thanks to its unique climate and terrain, Beidahu Ski Resort is one of the top resorts in China for snow quality.
The resort has become an official training base for the national alpine skiing team. The 2.3km long Liang Gang Piste (N7) is a challenge for experienced skiers. It’s not fenced and runs through dense forest, so if you’re a freeride enthusiast, you should definitely come to Beidahu. In good weather, it has the best powder (soft, deep snow) in China.
What else? China’s second Club Med (all-inclusive resort) has opened in Beidahu.
Highlights: The largest vertical drop in Asia. “Powder kingdom.“ National team training center. Amazing scenery.
How to get there: 2 hours by car from Changchun Longjia International Airport (CGQ); 1.5 hours from Jilin Railway Station.
Vertical drop: 850 m.
Pistes: 22 pistes (5 for beginners, 11 for intermediates, and 6 for advanced).
Facilities: 3 chairlifts, 2 gondolas, 1 surface lift, and 4 magic carpets.
Direct access to pistes: yes.
Night skiing: yes.
Suitable for: intermediate to advanced skiers.
Drawbacks: not suitable for beginners, not very family-friendly.
Jilin Vanke Songhua Lake Ski Resort
Skiing season: from mid-November to March.Vanke Songhua Lake Ski Resort is located 15 km from Jilin. One of the few resorts perfect for families, it features a children’s ski village and a school for kids aged 3 to 6.
The 5.23 km long Romantic piste is ideal for beginners. Snowboarders love the newly opened snow park. Another advantage is the excellent slalom runs (for experienced skiers only) and freeride trails.
Features: easy access, ski school for children aged 3 to 6.
Location: 1.5 hours by car from Changchun Longjia International Airport, 40 minutes by car from Jilin Railway Station.
Vertical drop: 605 m.
Pistes: 37 pistes for all skill levels.
Infrastructure: 6 chairlifts, 2 gondolas, and 8 “magic carpets” (beginner lifts).
Direct access to pistes: yes.
Night skiing: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Suitable for: everyone, especially families.
Other activities besides skiing:
At the start of the G1 piste, you’ll find a panoramic viewpoint nestled in the forest. Here you can take great photos of Songhua Lake and admire the skills of experienced skiers.
Nanshan Ski Resort in Beijing
Skiing season: from mid-December to March.Nanshan Ski Resort in Beijing is the largest resort with the widest selection of ski pistes near Beijing. It’s home to China’s first snowboard halfpipe built to international standards and a mogul skiing course.
A mini-park, daycare center, and a learning slope make this resort perfect for family vacations. Alpine-style cafés and wooden chalets evoke the ambiance of skiing in the Alps. Summary: Nanshan Ski Resort is an excellent place for a day trip from Beijing. It’s a great resort for the whole family.
Highlights: The largest ski resort near Beijing suitable for the entire family.
Location: 1.5 hours drive from central Beijing.
Vertical drop: 390 m.
Pistes: 26 pistes (12 for beginners, 8 for intermediates, 4 for advanced, 1 Mellow Park, and 1 mini-park).
Facilities: 3 chairlifts, 13 surface lifts, and 9 magic carpets (beginner lifts).
Night skiing: 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Snowboarding: yes, in Mellow Park.
Suitable for: everyone, especially beginners, advanced skiers, and snowboarders.
Drawbacks: The intermediate and advanced pistes are quite narrow.
Other activities besides skiing:
On your way to the resort, you can visit the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China—the most beautiful, in our opinion. After skiing, you can relax at Chun Hui Yuan Hot Spring Resort, where countless indoor and outdoor pools await you.
Contact us for helpful tips on traveling to ski resorts with your family or to organize a customized trip.
