If you’ve ever conducted an online search for ski resorts in China, you may have encountered articles with headlines such as, “Where to (Surprisingly) Go Skiing in China,” “China’s Skiing Revolution,” or the top related-search suggestion, “Does China have ski resorts?”.

However all of this confusion and consternation would surely bewilder those who lived roughly 5,000 years ago in the Altai Mountains of present-day northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. For it is these folks who, thanks to some rock paintings found along the region’s Dundebulake river valley, are credited with being one of the earliest pockets of civilization to have strapped repurposed wooden planks to their feet and hit the slopes.

In fact, at a 2006 news conference in Beijing, Chinese ski historian, Shan Zhaojian, proudly pro-claimed that China was “the original place for human skiing.” While his comment gave rise to a, quite literal, world of debate, Shan’s assertion is not without its merits.

Nevertheless, unlike Shan’s assertion, the headlines that pop up on search engines are without their merits, and Beijing, as well as China at large, is rife with ski resorts for all ages and skill levels.

Below we’ve collected a few of those resorts that are within easy reach of the Capital, so that you too can glide through winter like the Altai residents of old.

Badaling Ski Resort & Longqing Gorge Ice Lantern Festival

Badaling Ski Resort combines Huabei’s proximity to the Great Wall with Snow World’s commute along the Golden Tourist Route, which makes for a truly special China holiday getaway. Across the park, you’ll find two ski runs for beginners, two for intermediate skiers, and one for advanced folks, though word on the street is that even the more advanced trails aren’t beyond the skill level of most intermediates. Of course, non-skiers are not to be left out of the fun. Badaling offers snow tubing, snow mobiles, and even dog sleigh tracks.

What’s more, it’s got onsite accommodation which means you don’t have to head home after a long day of tiring yourself out on the slopes. There’s myriad attractions nearby such as the Longmai and Tianlongyuan Hot Springs to rest those achey muscles in the evening.

What makes Badaling Ski Resort particularly unique though is its impressive light display once the sun goes down. Dazzling, colorful lights shine through the resort, making the whole place look like something out of a children’s book. Additionally, if you find yourself there between January and February, you can pop over to the Longqing Gorge Ice Lantern Festival, which takes the idea of a winter wonderland to a whole new level.

Badaling Ski Resort

Address:

66 Economic Development Zone, Badaling Town, Yanqing County

Public Transportation:

Take Bus 919 from Dongzhimen Bus Terminal: from Beijing the buses leave at 8am and 9am; back from Badaling Ski Resort the buses leave 3pm and 4pm.

Driving:

Drive along the Badaling Expressway and take Exit 50 (Badaling Great Wall). Continue through Badaling Safari Park, drive for another 3 km until you reach Badaling Ski Resort.

Booking Hotline:

6912 9944

Rates:

RMB 80 – RMB 270 depending on equipment rentals, day and length of time.

Hours of Operation:

8.30am-5pm (weekdays)

8.30am-5pm & 6-9pm (weekends)

Longing Gorge Ice Lantern Festival

Address:

Longing Gorge Scenic Area, Gucun Village, Jiuxian Town, Yanqing County

Public Transportation:

Bus 919 from Deshengmen Bus Terminal. At Yanqing County, transfer to Bus 920 bound for Longqing Gorge.

Driving:

Take the Badaling Expressway (Jingzang Expressway) and get off at Exit 62. Drive along National Highway, through Yanqing County, until you arrive at Longqing Gorge.

Enquiries:

6919 1020

Rates:

RMB 100 (Adults), RMB 50 (Students), Free (12 & Under)

Hours of Operation:

9am-10pm

Beijing Snow World (Xueshijie) Ski Resort

At a mere thirty minutes drive from downtown Beijing, Xueshijie (which literally translates to Snow World) Ski Resort is perfect for a quick day trip. It’s located along the Golden Tourist Route, which takes commuters past the Ming Tombs, Juyongguan Great Wall, and Badaling Great Wall, so if you have friends or family in town, or if you haven’t been to these spots yourself, you could knock out a couple of sites throughout the day.

In addition to its five slopes, Beijing Snow World Ski Resort has two snow playgrounds for sled-ding and tubing, in case you or your little one aren’t so ski- or snowboard-inclined. Additionally, if any in your party happen to be less experienced, fear not, the park has ski coaches for beginners and kids at RMB 220 per hour.

Address:

Xiaogongmen, Shisanling Town, Changping District

Public Transportation:

Take Bus 345 zhi (345連) at Deshengmen Bus Terminal, then get off at Zhengfa University
（漣랬댕欺), then change for Bus 53 at Sunshine Plaza (捺밑衢), get off at Xianguo Leyuan（銶벎있蹈), you will see the Snow World Ski Resort.

Driving:

Take the Badaling Expressway until Exit 32 (Xiguan 鮫밑). Continue north along National Highway 110 for 5km and turn left at Tailing Tomb. Follow this road until you reach the ski resort.

Booking Hotline:

8976 1886 / 8976 1899 / 8976 1707

Rates:

RMB 30 – RMB 1360 depending on equipment rentals, day and length of time

Hours of Operation:

8am-5pm

Beijing Huabei International Ski Resort

You’ve seen the Great Wall. You’ve probably even walked across it at this point. But have you ever skied next to it? No? Well now’s your chance! The Beijing Huabei International Ski Resort is the only ski resort in the Capital’s confines to be flanked on three sides by the country’s most iconic structure. With unprecedented views like these, Huabei International definitely puts both the Ski and the Resort in Ski Resort.

If that weren’t enough, Huabei International is also the largest ski resort in Beijing, boasting an impressive 5,100m of ski trails and a massive drop of 238m. Between its seven slopes, one is reserved for the most seasoned skiers, three go to the intermediate, and a whopping four trails are available for those still trying to find their snowlegs. If you count yourself among the latter bunch, ski and snowboarding lesson packages are available for between RMB 220 and RMB 1,700, depending on sport, lesson length, and amount of people in your party.

To make matters more convenient, Huabei International Ski Resort provides a shuttle bus that departs from Oriental Ginza, located near Exit B of the Dongzhimen Line 2 Subway Station, with rides costing RMB 150 for weekdays and RMB 210 for weekends.

Address:

No. 548, Hefangkou Village, Huaibei Town, Huairou District

Public Transportation:

Take Bus No. 936 (branch) / 936（連）窟 at Dongzhimen Bus Terminal.

Driving:

Take the Jingcheng Expressway to Exit 14. Take Huidu Road (삔떼쨌) to National Highway No.111 (111 벌돛) until you pass Yanxi Lake
(洛鮫빤). Continue north for about 5km until you reach the ski resort.

Booking Hotline:

8969 6677

Rates:

RMB 38 – RMB 198 depending on equipment rentals, day and length of time.

Hours of Operation:

8.30am-9pm

This article appeared in the beijingkids December 2019 Giving Back issue

Atelier Christmas Factory
Every year, Atelier opens its doors to the public for an afternoon of arty-crafty activities, homemade glühwine, Christmas snacks, and a lucky draw. The event is free and promises three hours of fun and creativity. Discover Atelier students’ works and meet the teachers on Sunday December 6, from 3-6pm.

Art Contest
Atelier is also organizing a large range of different winter workshops. If you are interested in joining the adventure, why not take part in Atelier’s art contest, to win a Christmas Workshop! Express your creativity by filling in the comic seen here inspired by Félix Vallotton, a famous French painter and engraver of the beginning of the 20th century. The contest is open to children aged 5-15 years.

How to participate
1. Complete the comic inspired by Vallotton’s paintings by printing it out (you can redraw it if you want), coloring it, and adding the dialogues (the language can be English, Chinese or French.
2. Scan or take a high quality photo of your completed work and send it to Atelier’s official WeChat account before December 4.
3. Send the name, age, school and contact along with the comic to: contact@atelier.cn.com. The winner will be announced during Atelier’s Christmas Factory.

ISSCC Organizational Meeting
Come join the first organizational meeting before the annual International Schools Snowsports Championships China (ISSCC) competition takes place. ISSCC is a fun race competition for families, and the 2016 event will take place on March 4-6. It is organized by Imagine, with over 100 people attending. An organizational meeting is being held on Saturday December 5 at 5.30pm. At the meeting you can get more information about ISSCC, ask questions about the event, and if you sign up for ISSCC at the meeting you get an RMB 500 discount. You will also get the chance to try out race skiing on the G-force training simulator. Optional buffet will be available, includes soft drinks, RMB 150 per person. For more information, call 5739 4933 or visit the website www.imagine-china.com/ISSCC

Tea with Santa
The English Tearoom is hosting a tea with Santa on Sunday December 6, from 12 noon-5pm. Meet with Santa, tell him your wishes and have your photo taken at Dave’s Studio photo-booth. Take part in a gingerbread workshop and listen to some Christmas tales. At 5pm watch the lighting of the tree, and enjoy some festive carol singing. Roundabout will be selling Christmas decorations, children’s books and toys. RMB 198 per child, free for adults. All proceeds to support ongoing medical treatment for You Ruoke. For more information, call 8459 4407. The English Tearoom (behind Beidong Flower Market) on Shunhuang Road.

HoK Christmas Camp
Fun filled, action packed English, German, and Chinese-speaking camp for children aged 3-6 years old. House of Knowledge (HoK) will be organizing a range of activities, including Christmas arts and crafts, music and dance, letters to Santa, festive stories, making, baking and decorating Christmas cookies. The camp runs from December 14-18, 9am-3.30pm. For more information and pricing, call 6538 1389 or email admissions@hokschools.com.

DCP Winter Camps
Keeping kids active and having fun this winter break, Dulwich Community Programme (DCP) is running a number of winter camps. All camps will run at Dulwich College Beijing (DCB) Legend Garden Campus. Registration deadline is December 10. For more details, click here.

Football

Dec 14-18, from 9am-12pm. RMB 1,500.
Suitable for ages 5-12

Ice Hockey
Dec 14-18, from 9-10.45am. RMB 1,200.
Suitable for age 9+

In-Line Skating
Dec 14-18, from 9.30-10.30am. RMB 900.
Dec 19, from 9.30-10.30am. RMB 180.
Dec 28-31, from 9.30-10.30am. RMB 720.
Suitable for age 4+

Speed Skating Group Lessons
Dec 14-18, from 11am-12.30pm. RMB 1,200.
Dec 19, from 9.30-11am. RMB 240.
Dec 28-31, from 11am-12.30pm. RMB 960.
Suitable for ages 5-7

Dec 14-18, from 1.30-3pm. RMB 1,200.
Dec 19, from 11am-12.30pm. RMB 240.
Dec 28-31, from 1.30-3pm. RMB 960.
Suitable for age 7+

beijingkids Shunyi Correspondent Sally Wilson moved to Beijing in 2010 from the UK with her husband and son. Her daughter was born here in 2011 and both her kids keep her happily busy. In her spare time, Sally loves to stroll through Beijing’s hutongs and parks. She is a (most of the time) keen runner and loves reading: books, magazines, news, and celeb websites – anything really. Sally is also a bit of a foodie and loves trying out new restaurants.

Photos: Courtesy of Atelier, Brenda’s Cakes, Benson Kua (Flickr)

Peter Tupper manages the multi-activity company Imagine. From the UK, he has been living in Beijing for the past 4 years, and during this time has launched an array of after school activities, adventure camps, a choir, and the infamous bubble football matches.

What do you coach?
Skiing, snowboarding, rollerblading, sailing, and kayaking. I also coach the kids at our Survival Camps, Knight School, Pirate Parties, and Trash Bash.

How long have you been coaching? 8 years

What made you become interested in coaching?
The chance to turn passions into a lifestyle!

What coaching qualifications do you have?
Three levels of ski and snowboard instructing qualifications from Austria.

What was your favorite sport to play when you were a student?
My life at university revolved around running the snowboard club, coaching the team, and arranging for us to attend championship events in France and Scotland. I loved it so much I wanted to bring similar experiences to people in China!

How would you describe your coaching style?
Imaginative! I think like a kid when I’m with kids, so games and funny activities seem to spring to mind in the middle of lessons. Having said that, lessons are always based around the framework of the handbooks we’ve designed for the various Imagine. activities.

What do you find most rewarding about coaching?
I like to think about the effect that everything we do will have on kids as they grow up. Will there be one sentence or skill or thought that sticks with them and influences their future in a big way? That gives a reason to think about how we organize, act, and speak in everything we do.

And most challenging…?
I manage the Imagine. company when I’m not coaching, so increasingly it becomes a challenge to focus on each session, when there are many other aspects to think about. Luckily, our team of coaches is rapidly growing. I enjoy putting systems in place to ensure the activities meet certain standards for safety, fun, and education. This way, we can be sure to bring joy to more kids, no matter which coach goes on the day!

To contact Peter Tupper, e-mail peter@imagine-china.com, call 5739 4933, or visit the website www.imagine-china.com

beijingkids Shunyi Correspondent Sally Wilson moved to Beijing in 2010 from the UK with her husband and son. Her daughter was born here in 2011 and both her kids keep her happily busy. In her spare time, Sally loves to stroll through Beijing’s hutongs and parks. She is a (most of the time) keen runner and loves reading: books, magazines, news, and celeb websites – anything really. Sally is also a bit of a foodie and loves trying out new restaurants.

Photos: courtesy of Imagine.

If you’re looking for pies, to accompany your Thanksgiving turkey feast, why not get some sweet and savory ones delivered straight to your door. With pumpkin and apple pies for dessert, beef and chicken pies for mains, and sausage rolls for the buffet, there’s a flaky pastry for everyone from Two Guys and a Pie. Nothing says Christmas is on its way more than carols being sung by a choir. This weekend you can enjoy some wonderful singing, whilst shopping for Christmas gifts and treats at Beijing Riviera Clubhouse. After the carols, we’ll be heading home to put up our tree, and deck the halls. Whilst Ikea is one of the best places for decorations, wrapping paper, and fairy lights, you need to be in the right mood to face the crowds. Which is why, it’s so great to have Roundabout right on our doorstep, a one-stop-shop for all those Christmas needs. Dreaming of a white Christmas? Shunyi doesn’t get a lot of snow, but if you love to ski and snowboard, or would like to give it a try for the first time, now you can with Imagine.

Thanksgiving Pies
You have until 2pm today (Wednesday) to order your pies ready for Thanksgiving. The pies produced by Two Guys and a Pie are hand-made, using only the freshest ingredients, with no additives or preservatives. Pies are frozen from fresh and can be kept frozen for two months. The pumpkin pie is packed with pumpkin, nutmeg, and warming spices, perfect for Thanksgiving. The Biggs Apple pie is chunks of mixed apples, cooked in cinnamon, sugar, and nutmeg. RMB 150 for the family size 8 inch pies. Savory options include the Slow Loving Aussie with 100% pure beef brisket and onions, the Hunan beef packs a spicy punch, or the Chicken Cream Saga with its chunks of chicken, slow roasted pumpkin and onion, with a sage infused white sauce. You can also order sausage rolls, and spinach feta rolls. To order call 186 1255 7637 or email info@twoguysandapie.com. Free home delivery for orders over RMB 200.

Carols for a Cause
Beijing Riviera Clubhouse is hosting a Winter Gift Bazaar on Sunday, November 30 from 10am-4pm. A range of vendors will be selling festive gifts and treats. To keep the children entertained there will be wood carving, face painting, fun with science, and the chance to meet Santa. Choirs will be performing throughout the day, including school choirs from BSB and MSB, Shout Choir, and the Migrant Children’s Foundation Choir. Vendor tables are RMB 200 for Clubhouse members, RMB 300 for non-members. Money raised will go towards providing health care for migrant children. For more information contact jayne@mcfchina.org

Skiing and Snowboarding
Qiaobo Indoor Ski Centre in Shunyi is now open every evening, until 9pm, and is only a short drive from the Shunyi villas area. You can book an evening lesson with an English-speaking ski and snowboard instructor from Imagine Snowsports. Their instructors are friendly, qualified international instructors, and are available for private lessons. Further out from Shunyi, about an hour drive, are the Huaibei and Jundushan ski resorts. Here you can enjoy outdoor floodlit night-skiing from December 8. For more details email snowsports@imagine-china.com

Roundabout Big Christmas Sale
Roundabout has just about everything you need for Christmas, except the turkey. Visit their store and see the fantastic selection of decorations, wrapping, cards, gifts, and much more. The big Christmas sale is now on, so you can shop till you drop, whilst raising money for many wonderful causes. Once everything’s gone though, it really is gone.

beijingkids Shunyi Correspondent Sally Wilson moved to Beijing in 2010 from the UK with her husband and son. Her daughter was born here in 2011 and both her kids keep her happily busy. In her spare time, Sally loves to stroll through Beijing’s hutongs and parks. She is a (most of the time) keen runner and loves reading: books, magazines, news, and celeb websites – anything really. Sally is also a bit of a foodie and loves trying out new restaurants. 

Photos: Keith Joslin (Flickr), courtesy of Two Guys and Imagine.

China has some great places to ski, and renting equipment from a resort is certainly viable as long as you are armed with a little knowledge on what to look out for. What the clerk hands you over the counter will not always be right for your needs. This can have a large effect on safety and how fast you progress. An internationally-trained instructor would take care of this for you, but the following tips can serve as a general guide.

Binding-release mechanism settings
These are tiny, oft-overlooked numbers on the front and back of every ski binding. These settings determine how easily your skis come off.  If the number is too low, they will automatically pop off every time you make a turn or go over a bump. If it’s set too high, your skis will not come free when you take a fall, which is the cause of most knee twists. If set properly, this clever mechanism releases skis exactly when necessary.

In most countries outside China, these settings (known as DIN) are taken very seriously. Customers will be asked for their height, weight, boot length, skill level, and age, which then get plugged into a formula to calculate the correct setting for them.

In China, however, DINs will are often all set to a single, approximate number for that size of ski, which doesn’t allow for different abilities, heights and weights. It’s possible that the last person who used the skis changed the settings to suit their own ability, without the staff resetting them afterwards.

You can take responsibility for your own binding-release settings by looking up your number in advance using an online DIN calculator, such as this one.

When you receive the skis, check the number on the front and back of the bindings. On the photograph, the tiny white line is the indicator that these skis are set to DIN 7, for example.

If the number is not right, point at the setting, say the number you would like and the staff will usually be happy to change it for you with a screwdriver. When you hand back your skis afterwards, remember to remind the rental staff that you have changed the setting from its original number so they know to change it back to the default.

Bindings
Beside DIN settings, the bindings themselves may often be set too big or too small for your boots. If your boots only just squeeze into the bindings or you find that they are free to shake around once clipped in, the release mechanism will be less effective and you should readjust the size for a snug fit. With a bit of luck or help, you might be able to locate the small lever to re-adjust the size yourself. Otherwise, just take them to the desk and show the staff that the boots don’t fit the bindings.

Ski poles
To check that the poles you have been given are the right length, stand up straight and hold the pole by the handle. When the base of the pole is resting on the snow, your arm should be comfortably bent at a right angle. You can tell when the pole is too long or too short when your hand is not at the same level as your elbow.

Ski length
When stood up vertically, the length of a ski should fall roughly between the height of your chin and nose for beginners and intermediates. Although there is some flexibility in this aspect, you know something’s wrong when your child’s skis are taller than them.

Boot size
You should be able to wiggle your toes slightly when wearing your ski boots, but there should be no movement in the heel. Doing up the uppermost straps as tight as possible is the key to having full control when skiing. Conversely, toe straps shouldn’t be too tight. Don’t be lazy when strapping up; it will cost you more effort later.

All this may seem like a lot of detail, but try to follow these pointers if you’re skiing without an instructor. Following these tips is the key to a safe, comfortable, and fun day.

Next week on the blog, we will finally get out onto the snow. I will share some tips on choosing appropriate terrain and staying safe on those first steps to learning how to ski.

In between seasons training and working as a ski and snowboard instructor in Austria, Pete Tupper did a degree in Chinese and German in the UK and came to Beijing in 2010 to run winter camps under the name of O’le Ski. Since then, he has become a well-known face in the family and schools activities scene, creating and hosting the first climbing and skiing championships events for international schools and running all kinds of adventure weekends and trips. He just formed new music classes for kids and adults. Information on the various O’le organisations can be found on www.ole-sports.org and www.ole-music.com and Pete can be contacted at peter@ole-sports.org.

Photo courtesy of O’le Ski