Jingkids is all about helping families in Beijing maximize their lives here, and often that means we need to look at things from the perspective of our younger audience. Who better to tell you what kids like than their peers?

We’re so pleased to present the following review of SNOW 51 by 9-year-old Henry Willats.

SNOW 51 is a new urban indoor dry ski and snowboard experience at Beijing International Trade Mall on the first and second floors, and last week I was very lucky to get the chance to try it out with some friends!

First, you need to book ahead as the place is already quite popular. The staff were helpful and spoke a little English. They helped us fill in our details on an app. Next, Coach Lucky and another team member helped us get dressed in our safety gear, and as its indoors, there is no need to wear lots of winter clothes, which was great.

Coach Lucky then prepared the slope with a little water spray to make it nice and slippy. The “ski slope” is a rolling carpet with a bar at the bottom end to help you balance and stop you flying off into the shopping mall! The slope travels at different speeds and angles depending on your skill level. Don’t worry if you’re a beginner, as the coaches are with you all of the time and control or stop the slope as you need. I started just trying to get my balance, and within one hour I could turn, cross over with my friend, and crouch down easily.

My coach didn’t speak a lot of English, but with my basic Chinese it was very easy to understand the instructions. Our group swapped over every ten to 20 minutes, so you get a rest between each session.

While I did my class, my mom was able to go to the café next door to grab us some waters and coffee, so she was happy. She could also browse the Helly Hansen store SNOW 51 is located in, which offers discount levels depending on what membership you have with SNOW 51.

I will definitely go back as it was good exercise, lots of fun with my friends who were all different ages, and it meant I could ski even though Mom didn’t have time to take me to the slopes this week.

There are different membership levels, from an eight-hour pass to a year pass, and although its not cheap, you do get a dedicated coach with you for the whole session, which is ideal if you are a beginner or trying to maintain your skills off-season.

Following the mall’s operating hours, SNOW 51’s opening times are from 10am to 9pm. The youngest age allowed is 3 years old, but I would say it’s better from 5 years old and up, unless the child can already ski a bit. There is no upper age limit and elders are very welcome! There is another location in Sanlitun, and more are planned, so follow SNOW 51 on WeChat for announcements.

Thank you, young reporter Henry, for your review! We look forward to reading and discovering more with you!

KEEP READING: Your Beijing Guide to Indoor Skiing

Images: Claire Willats

Skiing on the mountains is one of the few joys that winter brings. But sometimes, you don’t want to spend a few hours in the car to queue up amongst the madding crowd at the ski lifts for 30 minutes just to ski down the slope in 5. Plus, you’ll have to wrestle with the elements – from the bright sunshine that causes snow blindness to biting winds that lead to frozen fingers. How do we avoid this? Why, by embracing indoor skiing!

The benefits to indoor skiing include

1. Convenience: There are a number of indoor skiing venues within the 5th ring road so you don’t have to spend hours driving out to the slopes.

2. Less crowds: Again, because there are more indoor places than there are outdoor ski slopes in Beijing, it should be less crowded. That means you won’t be quite as stressed if you aren’t a seasoned pro, and you’re also less likely to get into an accident.

3. Controlled environment: This argument goes for all indoor sports – we eliminate the unpredictability of rain, excessive sunshine (especially on the ski slopes, that snow blindness really kicks in!), pollution, wind, etc… This definitely helps you stay more focused on the actual skiing.

Indoor skiing isn’t meant to replace the great outdoors. But it is a wonderful way to get more training and build up your stamina and skill for the real thing. This is especially true for kids! I threw my kid in the deep end when we embarked on our first ski trip last year, and he definitely heard some new swear words from mama’s mouth. I mean, have you ever tried to pick up a little person on skis, when you’re also on skis? It’s nigh impossible! So yes, I will embrace practicing at an indoor ski venue, until we are well and truly ready to hit the slopes once more.

We scouted around and vetted these indoor skiing spots in Beijing.

Arctic Fox Indoor Ski 北极狐室内滑雪馆 (Běijíhú shìnèi huáxuě guǎn)

Right on the boundary of the 5th ring road lies Arctic Fox Indoor Ski, or AFSKI, a professional ski training venue that specializes in coaching kids. Unfortunately, though, their classes are conducted exclusively in Mandarin. You can try both skiing and snowboarding at their facility for just RMB 88 on the weekdays, while prices go up to more than RMB 200 on the weekends. Their professional ski coaches also organize trips to outdoor ski slopes as part of their classes, though that comes at an extra cost. Their opening hours are from 11am-8pm on the weekdays, 10am-8pm on the weekends.

Address:
Pingfang Bridge Flagship Store
平房村48号小狼国际院内
Tel: 131 6185 6083

Upbeat Indoor Ski Club 阿比特室内滑雪俱乐部 （Ā bǐ tè shìnèi huáxuě jùlèbù)

Located east of downtown Beijing, this indoor ski venue is tucked away in what appears to be an industrial-looking area not far from the Antiques Furniture Street in Gaobeidian. It is a modest space, with just three slopes of varying degrees, which is perfect if you’re looking for a quiet place to practice and learn. A solo ticket that gives you all-day access is just RMB 99, while a 1 adult + 1 child ticket is RMB 168 and 2 adults + 1 child is RMB 238, as long as you book the tickets before 8pm the night prior. Tickets include equipment rental, and they offer both skis and snowboards. They seem quite kid-friendly from customer reviews on Dianping, and photos of the place show that they also sport a small trampoline for kids! Their opening hours are from 10am-8pm daily.

Address:
Jiacheng BBD No1. Cultural Industry Park, Gaobeidian
高碑店路半壁店1号文化产业园A703

SKINOW 雪乐山室内滑雪 （Xuě yàoshān shìnèi huáxuě）

By far one of the biggest names in the indoor ski business, SKINOW has a multitude of locations around Beijing, and at least three within Chaoyang District. The most convenient would probably be the one located at The Place in downtown Beijing. All their premises are large and spacious, with an extensive inventory of ski equipment. Their trial class prices are also extremely reasonable, starting from just RMB 60 for kids (3-7 years old), and up to RMB 130 for 1 adult + child. However, they only specialize in classes, so aside from the trial class, you’ll have to purchase a package (minimum 20) in order to gain access to the slopes.

Address:
The Place South Street
光华路甲9号世贸天阶南街F3
Tel: 400 030 4096

This article appeared in the jingkids 2021 November-December issue

With the Winter Olympics occupying ski resorts in Chongli, many more people are flocking to Beijing’s closest ski resort in Nanshan, nestled in the Miyun district. If you’ve never been to Nanshan, or any ski resort in Beijing, there are a few important things you should know beforehand. Even if you have been skiing in Beijing before, you might discover a hack or two in the following article!

1. Use a ski card holder

At Nanshan you’ll be given a ski card that you put a deposit of RMB 400 on. This amount can be used to rent equipment and purchase food at the on-site cafes, but more importantly, you need it to enter each and every ski lift or ski slope. If you lose it, well, good luck getting your deposit back!

The ski jackets you can rent at Nanshan come equipped with a nifty card holder on the outside, which allows you to easily extend the card to swipe for entry to the slopes. But if you’re not renting a jacket from them, trust me when I say it is extremely cumbersome, not to mention embarrassing, to hold up the line while you fumble for the card in your pocket with gloved hands. So bring a card holder that you can sling around your neck or wrist. This goes for the kids too!

2. Get fingerless, touchscreen-able, or clip-on gloves

You are going to have your phone with you on the slopes, whether for photo-taking purposes or for emergencies. But I’ve seen many a lost glove abandoned on the slopes because they had to be removed in order to handle touchscreen smart phones! Either get fingerless gloves or gloves that are touchscreen-friendly so you can retain use of your phone without taking them off. It pays to invest a little in a good pair as there are many gloves that claim to be touchscreen-able but really fall short. Alternatively, you could get a pair of gloves that clip to each other so you won’t lose one! Note that all ski equipment including helmets, ski googles, ski suits, gloves and shoes can all be rented at the resort individually. Excluding a jacket, it cost us about RMB150 to rent everything we needed, even the skis.

3. Keep an eye out for lamb pies, chuan’r, and Starbucks

The cafe attached to the main building of the ski resort at Nanshan not only offers real Starbucks coffee, but also a local secret to staying warm and well-fed while participating in the exhausting sport of skiing: lamb! According to local belief, lamb meat has intrinsic “heating” properties and can keep the body warm from within. The lamb pies and lamb skewers here (locally termed chuan’r) are freshly roasted on the grill out at the al-fresco dining area of the cafe and they are delicious. You can order and pay for them using your ski card at the cafe, but you’ll need to go to the grill man outside with your receipt to claim them!

4. Explore the slopes

The first slopes you’ll see upon exiting the resort after getting all geared up are the beginner slopes, or bunny slopes as I affectionately call them. They all provide only a gentle degree of slope so you can build up your confidence. Note that the slope with the mushroom decorations are only accessible if you have a kid. One child must be accompanied by only one adult to gain entry to this slope. The other slopes are open for all.

As a beginner, I pretty much only stick around the bunny slopes. But recently, on a lark, I decided to venture further and took the ski lift up to a spot where the course was divided – to the left was an intermediate slope that spelled certain butt injury for me, and to the right was a gentle beginner trail. I went right and halfway down the slope, we discovered an entire plateau with more slopes! This was completely hidden from view at the bottom of the resort! The moral of the story is not to let your skiing skill, whatever level it is, hold you back from exploring different courses and trails. Of course, if you are able to decipher the map provided at the resort, you might find even more surprises waiting on the slopes!

5. Hire a local driver

Both times we organized a day trip to Nanshan we employed the services of a local driver. This is super handy because a) they know better when to go so you can avoid the crowds, b) they are much more familiar with the operations and prices and won’t incur “extra” costs which our foreign faces may, and c) they can help secure a table at the restaurant, and if you have a good relationship they might even help you with the younger ones!

There are many local driver recommendations to be found in the expat community, but I have always employed husband and wife duo Eric and Lily. Lily in particular has always been super helpful with offering snacks or watching our stuff and entertaining the kids. You can scan Lily’s QR code below.

There you have it, five hacks to make your skiing experience in Nanshan as smooth as the beautiful, snowy slopes! Keep in mind that a day pass (RMB210, excluding RMB20 for admission) will allow you to ski from 9am – 5pm. There’s also a 4-hour day pass for RMB190, but if you go over the time limit you can be charged. Nanshan is also known for night skiing, which costs only RMB145 and lets you ski from 4-8pm.

KEEP READING: Aching for a White Christmas? These Snow Parks and Ice Rinks Are Open!

Images: Vivienne Tseng-Rush, Larissa Cosima Tropp, Dianping

We have some updates on all the great winter camps around Beijing, which now have options for kids as early as 18 months! So don’t fear, parents, you have lots of choices for all ages, and all kinds of educational fun the kids can enjoy on their holiday break. The new additions are at the top.

Many of these camps are in Beijing, but some travel elsewhere. Please be aware that if you travel outside of Beijing for any reason, many schools in Chaoyang District require students to provide a nucleic acid test within seven days of returning to school. The requirements can change at any time with new information, so use caution when making plans. – Acting Editor’s Note

The Children’s House Winter Camp Programs

Montessori Toddler Winter Camp
Who: 18 months – 3 years
When: Dec 21-25 (9am-12.15pm). Snack and lunch included.
Dec 28-31 (9am-12.15pm). Snack and lunch included.
Where: The Children’s House International Kindergarten, Haofeng Sports Park, Yaojiayuan north road, Chaoyang (in sports park) (朝阳区姚家园北路豪丰体育公园内巧智博仁国际幼儿园)
Fees: RMB 1,750 1st week, RMB 1,400 2nd week
How: 39 1070 6224 or Scan QR code

The Children’s House: Scout’s Honor
Who: Ages 3-6
What: The Children’s House is pairing with TTCLUB International Scouts to solve age-appropriate problems and tasks, such as directional tracking, Roman chariots, tent-building, and so much more.
When: Dec 21-25 (9am-3pm) Snacks and lunch included.
Where: The Children’s House International Kindergarten, Haofeng Sports Park, Yaojiayuan north road, Chaoyang (in sports park) (朝阳区姚家园北路豪丰体育公园内巧智博仁国际幼儿园)
Fees: RMB 3,500
How: 39 1070 6224 or scan QR code

The Children’s House: Chinese Treasures
Who: Ages 3-6
What: Children will experience rich and colorful activities, such as the Chinese tea ceremony, Beijing opera, shadow puppetry,  and the carefully designed architecture of famous landmarks. There’s also a surprise field trip.
When: Dec 28-31 (9am–3pm). Snacks and lunch included.
Where: The Children’s House International Kindergarten, Haofeng Sports Park, Yaojiayuan north road, Chaoyang (in sports park) (朝阳区姚家园北路豪丰体育公园内巧智博仁国际幼儿园)
Fees: RMB 3,000
How: 39 1070 6224 or scan QR code

The Hutong Ski Winter Camp

Stop Motion Animation Workshop

Who: Ages 8-12
When: Dec 26-Jan1 (7 days, includes the opening and closing day)
Where: Xizhou, Dali
Fee: RMB 12,800/student, RMB 3,800/accompanying parent, RMB 5,800/two accompanying parents (includes teaching, teaching materials, family activities, accommodation and meals in LC hotels, innovation education seminars; excludes transportation to Xizhou)
How: Scan QR code below

Weekend Camps at Culture Yard

If you’re just looking for weekend camps this winter, scan the QR code for the Culture Yard to find out more about their programs.

Mad Science Bilingual Engineering Camp

Who: Ages 6-12
When: Dec 14-Dec 18
Where: Shunyi
What: Bilingual Engineering Camp (lamp building; treehouse design, building, testing, and decoration; roller coaster study, building, testing, and modification)
Fee: RMB 5,980
Tel: Lisa, 132 6928 5353
WeChat: madsciencebeijing123

Mad Science Secret Agent Lab

Who: Ages 4-10
When: Dec 28-Jan 1 (9am-4:30pm)
Where: Shunyi
What: Junior Detective Camp (Secret messages; gizmos and gadgets; crime scene adventures; insect helpers; liquid testing; and laser bouncer)
Fee: RMB 5,980
Tel: Lisa, 132 6928 5353
WeChat: madsciencebeijing123

WanTrain Christmas Holiday Coding Camp

Who:  Ages 6-10
When: Dec 21-24 (9am-1pm and 2-5:30pm)
Where: Krypton Space, Liangmaqiao
What:
Day I: Scratch beginner
Day II: Scratch intermediate
Day III: Kodu game Lab
Day IV: Sphero robotics

Who: Ages 11-17
When: Dec 28-31 (9am-1pm and 2-5:30pm)
Where: Riviera Club, Shunyi
What: Scratch advanced; Sphero robotics; build video games with Python PyGame I; build video games with Python PyGame II.

Fee: 750 RMB/day or 2800 RMB/camp*
*Bring a sibling or a friend along and enjoy RMB 300 discount
**Includes snacks and soft beverages, and each student will receive a free programmable robot, a coding booklet for training, and a certificate of completion!
Tel: 130 2197 1700

TIE Family Club 2020 Christmas Camp: Storytelling, Music, and Arts

Who: Ages 7-12 
When: Dec 28-Jan 1 (10am-3.30pm)
Where: Today Art Museum
What: Storytelling: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe; guitar time; and Pastel Nagomi art workshops
Fee: RMB 3,900-4,100*
*Half days available. Full camp days include lunch and snacks.
WeChat ID: TieFamilyClub
Tel: 135 2218 6203

BIBA Winter Camps

Wild China Beijing Winter Olympics Camp

Who: Ages 12-16 
When: Session 1: Dec 26-31; Session 2: Jan 26-31
Where: Chongli
What: Ski camp and learning survival skills for the winter, including snow shelters, identifying natural disasters, and night exploration hike.
WeChat ID: WildChina_Journeys (or email education@wildchina.com)
Fee: RMB 9,100 

Age: Group A: 8-18 y/o, Group B: 14-18 y/o
Price: RMB 4,000/block
Dates: Block 1: Dec 21-25, Block 2: Dec 28-Jan 1
Location: Tianjin
Transport: Departure from BSB SLT at 7.30am, arrival at JCST Center at 8.45am; Departure from JCST Center 3pm, arrival at BSB SLT at 4.15pm
Departure from ISB Shunyi 7.45am, arrival 8.45am; departure from training center 3pm, arrival 4pm
Transport fee: Contact for fees. If fewer than 10 participants, the transport will be canceled.
Flips & Kicks Plus and its cooperative partners are not responsible for any delays caused by traffic or other factors in relation to the transport. If there is interest, transportation from SLT/CBD can also be arranged.
Food: Flips & Kicks Plus supplies water and fruit each day. Participants can bring their own lunch or order Chinese food at the venue.
Food fee: RMB 250/block.

Stay Over: Why not stay over in Tianjin during the week and enjoy the beautiful landscape surrounding the training center? For more information please contact us.

Location: JCST action film training center in Tianjin
Age:  Group A 4-7 y/o, Group B 8-12 y/o
Cost: RMB 4,000/block
Dates: Block 1: Dec 21-25. Block 2: Dec 28-Jan 1
Time: 9am-2.30pm (full day only)
Transport: Departure from BSB SLT at 7.30am, arrival at JCST Center at 8.45am; Departure from JCST Center 3pm, arrival at BSB SLT at 4.15pm
Departure from ISB Shunyi at 7.45am, arrival at JCST Center at 8.45am; Departure from JCST Center at 3pm, arrival at ISB Shunyi at 4pm
Transport Fee: Contact for fees.  If fewer than 10 sign-ups from each transportation venue, the transport will be canceled.
Snack & Food: Flips & Kicks Plus supply fruit per day and water. Please bring your own snacks. In case you like to order Chinese food at the venue it’s an additional RMB 250/block.

KEEP READING: Bundle Up and Join the Holiday Cheer All Across Beijing!

Photos: Pexels, from organizers

As much as we’re all looking forward to turkey and delicious pies, December winter break also looms large, with fewer options for getaways than in past years. Winter camps, then, will be key for any families trying to fend off boredom and too much screen time. Luckily, we already have arts, science, survival training, coding, and even secret agent training on the agenda! Here are our top picks for winter camps for ages 4-16:

Mad Science Bilingual Engineering Camp

Who: Ages 6-12
When: Dec 14-Dec 18
Where: Shunyi
What: Bilingual Engineering Camp (Lamp building; treehouse design, building, testing, and decoration; roller coaster study, building, testing, and modification)
Fee: RMB 5,980
Tel: Lisa, 132 6928 5353
WeChat: madsciencebeijing123

Mad Science Secret Agent Lab

Who: Ages 4-10
When: Dec 28-Jan 1 (9am-4:30pm)
Where: Shunyi
What: Junior Detective Camp (Secret messages; gizmos and gadgets; crime scene adventures; insect helpers; liquid testing; and laser bouncer)
Fee: RMB 5,980
Tel: Lisa, 132 6928 5353
WeChat: madsciencebeijing123

WanTrain Christmas Holiday Coding Camp

Who:  Ages 6-10
When: Dec 21-24 (9am-1pm and 2-5:30pm)
Where: Krypton Space, Liangmaqiao
What:
Day I: Scratch beginner
Day II: Scratch intermediate
Day III: Kodu game Lab
Day IV: Sphero robotics

Who: Ages 11-17
When: Dec 28-31 (9am-1pm and 2-5:30pm)
Where: Riviera Club, Shunyi
What: Scratch advanced; Sphero robotics; build video games with Python PyGame I; build video games with Python PyGame II.

Fee: 750 RMB/day or 2800 RMB/camp*
*Bring a sibling or a friend along and enjoy RMB 300 discount
**Includes snacks and soft beverages, and each student will receive a free programmable robot, a coding booklet for training, and a certificate of completion!
Tel: 130 2197 1700

TIE Family Club 2020 Christmas Camp: Storytelling, Music, and Arts

Who: Ages 7-12 
When: Dec 28-Jan 1 (10am-3.30pm)
Where: Today Art Museum
What: Storytelling: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe; guitar time; and Pastel Nagomi art workshops
Fee: RMB 3,900-4,100*
*Half days available. Full camp days include lunch and snacks.
WeChat ID: TieFamilyClub
Tel: 135 2218 6203

BIBA Winter Camps

Wild China Beijing Winter Olympics Camp

Who: Ages 12-16 
When: Session 1: Dec 26-31; Session 2: Jan 26-31
Where: Chongli
What: Ski camp and learning survival skills for the winter, including snow shelters, identifying natural disasters, and night exploration hike.
WeChat ID: WildChina_Journeys (or email education@wildchina.com)
Fee: RMB 9,100 

KEEP READING: So You Want To Be a Game Developer: What It Takes To Make Gaming a Career

Photos: Pexels, from groups

“Where are you going for Golden Week?” used to hold a feeling of adventure, fun, and family time. Like most things in 2020, this year is sure to be different, but how do you want to spend your time? Since Mid-Autumn Festival is a celebration of friends and families — and mooncakes — we put together quite a few choices for taking a stay-cation. For as much as we appreciate the comforts and safety of our homes after this year, getting away for a day or two will make home all the more satisfying when we return. 

You can be as active or relaxed as you like at Jinhai Lake.

Jinhai Lake 

With lots of resorts close to the lake where your family can stay, they have water sports, hiking trails, and just a beautiful place to breathe some fresh air. This time of year, the paths are framed by autumn colors in red, orange, and light greens, perfect for celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival. Located in the Pinghu District, nearby attractions include the Jingdong Large Cave, Zhushui Leisure Park, Jizhou Cave, and Baiyun Temple. 

Address: Pinggu District, China (北京市平谷区)

Spend your time surrounded by sculptures at every turn.

Hotel Eclat at Parkview Green

Hotel Eclat Beijing at Parkview Green Mall is called a “Design Hotel” for good reason. Each suite proves itself an experience in modern art, with a range of amenities you can enjoy and upgrade: rainforest bath and showers, Panasonic massage chairs, complimentary mini-bar, sky terrace for beautiful evening views of Beijing, Some much pricier suites are privately themed with your own private “dragon” lagoon and jacuzzi all the way to feeling “Presidential,” which apparently means you need a classic gold harp as the centerpiece? Depending on your price range, Hotel Eclat will definitely feel like a getaway even if it’s mere blocks from your home.

Address: 9 Dongdaqiao Rd, Chaoyang, 北京市朝阳区东大桥路9号
Ph: 8561 2888
Website: www.eclathotels.com/beijing

A beautiful way to chill out in China.

Nirvana Resort Beijing

The Nirvana Resort Beijing at first offers a simple, sparse, yet elegant selection of rooms. Then you realize you’re surrounded by museums, well-reviewed restaurants, and an assortment of “happy places” for your children to play. There’s golf, games, swimming, tennis, billiards, but perhaps most importantly, there is peace and quiet when you need it. All the views truly contributed to naming this resort. Every member of the family will find their own little Nirvana here.

Address: 28 Daoxianghulu station, Sujiatuoxiang, Haidian District 海淀区苏家坨乡稻香湖路站28号
Ph: 5871 8888
Website: www.daoxianghujing.com

Stay close to Beijing but feel far enough away to chill.

Hotel Jen

If you want the luxury without nature or travel, Beijing’s very own Hotel Jen has their Amazing Fun offer every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for only RMB 600/night. You get access to all the fitness amenities, credit towards Chi The Spa, and other Gold Member shopping discounts in the China World Mall and Shangri-La Hotel, the Kerry Hotel, two tickets to Le Cool Ice Rink, select complimentary beverages in your room, and a second bed at no extra cost for the kids.

Address: 1 Jianguomen Outer St, Jian Wai Da Jie, Chaoyang, 朝阳区建外大街建国门外大街1号
Ph: 6505 2277
Website: www.hoteljen.com/beijing/centraldistrict/offers/details/stay/amazing-fun/

Beihai Park alone has activities that could fill an entire day.

Nostalgia Hotel – Beijing

For a simpler staycation, book your family a room at the Nostalgia Hotel in Beijing’s Xidan District. You get a cute retro room, dining areas, bookshelves, tabletop game room, and access to nearly all the hot spots among Beijing’s landmarks. Just a few minutes from the Xisi Subway Station, staying here also gives your family the perfect opportunity to walk for all your sightseeing, including The Geological Museum of China, Beihai Park, The Forbidden City, and more. Allow yourselves to get lost looking for a place to eat, and discover someplace new.

Address: No.46, Fangjia Hutong, Beijing, 中国北京方家胡同46号, 100007
Ph: 6403 2288
Website: www.nostalgiahotelbeijing.com/cn/contact_us/

With so much to do, families of all ages can keep busy, or just relax/

Haituo Valley International Tourist Resort, 海拖山谷

Want to feel like you went to Switzerland? It’s the perfect time to visit the Haituo Valley International Tourist Resort in the Yanqing District. Located 130 kilometers away on the east side of Haituo Mountain Camping Holy Land, this is the place to lose yourself in skiing and other outdoor adventures.

Address: Haituo Mountain, 延庆区张山营镇北部
Website: https://www.trip.com/travel-guide/beijing/haituo-mountain-90950/

Bring your favorite fairy tales. They’ll want to read them all while you’re here!

Yunfeng Mountain Fairy Tale Tree House

Maybe you want to spend more time at The Great Wall, at Mutianyu and not feel constrained by a shuttle departure schedule or how long you booked your guide. Maybe you want to feel transported and get your kids back into a bit of the fantastical side of life for a few days. In that case, Yunfeng Mountain Fairy Tale Tree House could serve all your needs! Around 120 kilometers outside the city, you have all the amenities needed for a comfortable stay — with little distraction to give the kids all the time they need for a real feel of the majesty surrounding them in Beijing.

Yunfeng Fairy Tale Tree House
Address: Yaluo Village, Bulaotun Town, Miyun District, 密云区不老屯镇亚罗村
Ph: 010 8109 8688
Website: http://english.visitbeijing.com.cn/a1/a-XCAY4W1D7F3824D470C8A4

KEEP READING: Golden Week at Home: Day Trips You Always Wanted to Try but Never Had Time For 

Photos: Uni Young, Pexels, Canva, Cindy Marie Jenkins

If you follow our sister publication, The Beijinger, then you’ll know that Beijing kind of, sort of, got its first snowfall of the season last weekend. Okay, we admit, we’re being a bit generous in bestowing those wintry words upon a couple of fluke flakes that fell in the northern most reaches of our fair city. But still, we’re pretty darn excited about it. In fact we’re so excited that a few of us are already wrapping ourselves in scarves and donning our finest mittens and knittens, ready to turn this brain-freeze up to 11.

Outdoor sports organizers Imagine are also getting their winter holidays in order with various opportunities to hit the slopes across Asia over the next few months. Perhaps the largest events are the Chongli Ski Camps, which are overnight trips for students age 7-14 at the Olympic Thaiwoo Ski Resort in Hebei Province, just two and a half hours from Beijing. Between December 16 and February 3, Imagine will be hosting six week-long trips that will help even the most novice of skiers become seasoned pros.

Prices range from RMB 8580 for the Full Package to RMB 2380 for the Only-Training Package, with an additional RMB 1000 if scheduled during a national holiday. Both packages include transport to and from Beijing (leaving Monday, returning Friday), breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as a fully qualified English-speaking instructor. What’s more, the Full Package includes accommodation in a hostel-style room at the resort. Lastly, if you sign up with two or more friends, everyone gets to enjoy an RMB 500 discount.

Additionally, throughout the season, Imagine will be facilitating school-wide ski trips to Beijing, Chongli, or Japan. If you prefer to stay local this winter, private ski lessons open to all ages and taught by qualified, multilingual instructors will be offered at Beijing and Chongli resorts. And for those kids age 7-18 who want to test their skills, the 8th International Schools Snow Sports Championship China (ISSCC) will take place at Thaiwoo Ski Resort from February 28 – March 1.

According to Pete Tupper, Imagine’s founder, “Skiing is a really great way to get kids outside and help build their confidence and character. It’s not a sport that’s particularly easy, so seeing a kid’s smile after they make their first turns or learn each new trick is really rewarding. It’s also one of the few sports that a whole family can enjoy together.”

For more information about Chongli Ski Camps click here, and for ISSCC click here.

For more information about all of Imagine’s events, you can scan the QR codes on the poster above.

Photos: Pixabay, Imagine

Alpine skiing is gaining enormous popularity in China and is only expected to expand further with the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022 just around the corner. Skiing is a fantastic sport and a great way to enjoy the outdoors. However, with the growing number of skiers and the constantly changing styles and equipment, the technical and physical demands are growing as well. This has resulted in a significant increase in winter sports-related injuries in ski resorts around the world.

The overall risk of sustaining an injury during skiing or snowboarding can be reduced by a targeted fitness program. Muscles are important to protect joints and ligaments, and thus need to be properly prepared to minimize the risk of injury. Beijing United Family Hospital‘s Prof. Dr. Thomas Nau tells us more about what steps we should take.

Get your body ready

Regardless of your fitness level, you should start at least six weeks in advance to prepare your body for skiing. You can do that by joining special fitness classes at your gym, by hiring a personal trainer, or just by yourself. I recommend working on your endurance, strength, and coordination at least twice a week.

One example of a suggested work-out:

• Warm up (including stabilizing and coordination-based exercises)
• Endurance (running or cycling)
• Strength training
• Stretching and cool down

Carving and Snowboarding

Newer styles of carving and snowboarding require more technical skills. I have often seen beginners that try these modern and quite aggressive skiing styles have sustained severe and devastating injuries that could have easily been prevented. Therefore, I advise getting professional instruction, especially when you are not used to the equipment. Even one day of instruction may help to reduce the risk of injury and make the experience more enjoyable. The same applies to beginner snowboarders. A beginners course always pays off. Without some of the simple basic skills, you may end up falling down all the time and quitting before you even get started.

Before Going Downhill

A proper warm-up definitely reduces the possibility of injury. This can be started on the way up or on top of the mountain. A simple 10-minute warm-up including range of motion and flexibility exercises should be enough. Starting “cold” means exposing your muscles and joints to unnecessary risk. In my practice, I have treated hundreds of patients whose skiing day only lasted about 10 minutes or even less, and for the majority, a simple fall or turn resulted in an otherwise easily avoidable injury. If you watch a ski race on television, you can see how seriously professional athletes take their warm-up. Your first slope of the day should always be an easy one so that you can get used to the slopes and the type of snow. For example, wet snow on warmer days acts entirely differently to dry powder on colder days. Once you feel comfortable, you can increase the difficulty level of the slopes you are skiing.

Additional Tips from the Expert

Wrong equipment significantly increases the risk of accidents. Your body mass and height are not the only deciding factors when choosing your equipment; you (or the person renting you your equipment) must also factor in your skill level. In addition, it is extremely important to get your skis and bindings checked before hitting the slopes

Prof.Dr.Thomas Nau is a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon and Sports Medicine Specialist at Beijing United Family Hospital. He has more than 20 years of experience in treating skiing and winter sport injuries

This post is provided by BJU
Photos: Wikimedia, PXhere, courtesy of BJU

If you’ve been outside at all in the last 24-hours, then it is quite apparent that winter is in full force right now and shows no sign of letting up. What better way to take advantage of these frigid temperatures than by hitting the powder hard. That’s precisely what Imagine China is offering with their quickly approaching International Schools Snowsports Championship China 2018.

In its sixth year, this fun event will give skiing obsessed kids the opportunity to ride the slopes in friendly competition with their peers. Featuring various competitive skiing and snowboarding categories as the Dual Slalom, Giant Slalom, and Freestyle events, it’s a great way to check out your child’s skills and how they fare against others in their respective age groups.

As the Beijing Winter Olympics are still a number of years away we couldn’t think of a better way to spur your child’s interest in these great winter sports. It’s not very often when they have the opportunity to take part in a timed race. The best part just might be that when your kids are launching themselves down the slopes at furious speeds, parents are free to watch or enjoy the slopes themselves. Parents or a designated adult must, however, be present during the event for the child to participate.

The festivities are going down on March 2-4 at Wanlong Ski Resort in Chongli. While we know that there are probably plenty of youngsters out there who have mad skills on skis, this competitive event is limited to those between the ages of 7-18. Also, there is an RMB 1000 registration fee for all competitors.

To learn more about the International Schools Snowsports Championship China 2018, check out the event listing here for all of the crucial details.

Photos: Courtesy of Imagine