Last weekend, an extraordinary number of people were seen trekking out on the frozen river at 龙云山 (Lóng yún shān) Dragon Cloud Mountain in Miyun District. Among the hiking troops present were the indomitable Beijing Hikers and brave Cub Scouts, and my family was among them. Like many in our group, it was my first hike on ice, and it was quite an eye-opening adventure for all of us. Here are some of our takeaways from the experience.

Michael Tye, Senior Director of Space Design at Li Auto and dad of Christopher, 6, discovered that “Beijing has some very nice spots for families in the winter. I also learned a lot about ice safety and how thick ice needs to be to walk on (it’s 10cm). Oh, and that dogs need shoes to walk on ice!”

Sun Huijie, General Manager of Beijing Hikers and mother to 5-year-old Hayley shared her insights gleaned from numerous ice hikes over the years. “Kids of all ages love ice; they like watching the running river in the midst of the thick frozen ice; they like running on it and sliding on it; they like ice! These aforementioned kids will forget how cold the weather is and forget about their parents as long as they have companions and friends to play with them.”

Some of the other folks who joined Beijing Hikers over the weekend also readily shared what they learned, all of which I agree with 100 percent.

1. Pay attention to the surface of the ice! The deeper the color, the more slippery the surface!
2. Gloves must be waterproof!
3. Layer, layers, layers! Two pairs of socks are recommended.
4. Wear clothes that you are ready to get dirty in. Ice may look nice and white, but it’s actually really dirty.
5. Bring a power bank because cold temperatures mean your battery dies faster.

Ray Wu, father of Cyanne and Ruefus, 7 and 5 said: “The kids kept on saying they have been to Alaska since the ice hiking trip. The frozen water fall is one of their favorite as they never experienced it before. Also it is such a relief to know we have some good day trip options when traveling becomes tricky lately. And of course a good opportunity to take some nice shots! One more thing: People will eat whatever they are given when they are hungry and cold.”

As for myself, my takeaways were firstly, that I absolutely hate being cold. It will make me extremely cranky, enough to want to smash in a car window because the driver inconsiderately left his car parked in the way of two coach buses, trapping 55 adults and children for over half an hour. Secondly, while you might be tempted to layer up with sweaters and coats, it’s really the extremities that need the most protection and the parts that will feel the cold the fastest, so truly invest in gloves, socks, and shoes. Crampons are usually provided by the tour groups, or can be purchased for cheap on Taobao.

I am also very proud that I had the foresight to prepare two thermos bottles of hot ginger honey drinks, which kept me going when the going got cold, which it did. Editor Julie Wolf had a couple of recipes for delicious winter mocktails, which you can always turn into cocktails as long as you can hike while inebriated…

And last but not least, do have fun. The reason kids don’t care about the cold is because they’re too busy having fun to be bothered by it! So keep moving, laugh, and just let it go…

According to expert outdoorsmen YMCE, the best season for ice hikes In Beijing is generally from early January to early February, depending on weather conditions of course.

KEEP READING: What I Learned From Hiking Six Miles With My 6-Year-Old

Images: Courtesy of Ray Wu, YMCE, Vivienne Tseng-Rush

Equipped with world-class facilities and offering an internationally recognized Canadian education curriculum, the Canadian International School of Beijing undoubtedly attaches great importance to their hockey program. We interviewed four of their top players—Rachel, Charlie, Song Tianyi, and Song Tianxin, who are uber passionate about their life on the ice.

“I fell in love with hockey the first time I watched a hockey game,” Rachel told us with excitement, and explained to us some of the rules of the game.

Hockey demands lots of strength and energy, and is physically challenging for athletes especially girls involved in a coed team.

“During the mixed games, there is an inevitable amount of physical contact no matter if you’re a girl or a boy. It can get even more competitive because no boy wants to lose to a girl,” said Rachel’s mother.

“Rachel even got punched in her face competing with an American team last year, when she tried to score and the opposing team’s goalkeeper tried to stop the puck. Rachel used her full force to confront the goalkeeper and scored anyway,” she said.

Rachel’s parents were not that supportive of Rachel’s decision to play hockey until she showed her persistent enthusiasm.

“I convinced my parents by playing hard. I never complained despite how tough the training was, and tried to make progress with each practice.”

Nine-year-old Charlie is the team leader for the grade 1-3 team. Starting hockey when he was just six years old, Charlie usually plays center. Charlie told us his favorite part of doing hockey is the speed.

“I feel like I’m Optimus Prime when I wear my hockey gear. I enjoy it even though the training can sometimes be really tiring,” said Charlie.

“Charlie is not very tall, that’s one of the reasons we chose hockey for him rather than basketball,” Charlie’s dad told us. “He is agile and has good sense of logic, which puts him into a more advantageous position for playing the sport.”

“I think having a positive attitude is more important than winning the game,” Charlie’s mom said.

“Yeah, we agree on that. We think as parents we need to give Charlie our full support and understanding. His devotion and passion ultimately will help him stand out,” Charlie’s father added.

13-year-old Song Tianyi and 12-year-old Song Tianxin are a brother and sister, who have been playing hockey for five and half years, and one and half years respectively. Tianyi plays full back, while Tianxin is the goalkeeper.
“I have faith in them. I believe they will play better and better if they set up goals for themselves and keep powering forward,” said the pair’s mom.

Tianyi and Tianxin dream of entering the National Hockey League (NHL) and Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), and playing for the national team in Beijing’s 2022 Winter Olympics.

“Rachel has become more strong-minded thanks to playing hockey.” said her mom. She wants to prove to her coach that she can play as well as the boys on the team.

“I’m happy to notice Charlie’s changes as well. He became more outgoing and strong-willed. Playing hockey not only improved his physical fitness, but gave him more self-confidence, and gave him the belief that you reap what you sow,” Charlie’s dad told us and turned to his son saying “I’m very proud of you. Nothing else but your own devotion and hard work can take the credit for what you’ve achieved.”

“Being a team leader has cultivated the spirit of teamwork into Rachel,” said Rachel’s mom. “She comforts her team members whenever they fail to score instead of complaining.”

“For me, I care more about the unity of the team than wining the competition,” said Rachel, “All of the team members are my good friends. I’m so happy to play with them.”

We could tell that they were consumed with passion for this sport that only recently has entered the national spotlight with Beijing getting its own KHL team and preseason NHL games occurring in multiple cities across China. Rachel’s face lit up with pleasure and pride when talking about the most unforgettable game they played.

“For the first half of the game, our opponents were three goals ahead when I was transferred into the center position. From there I scored four goals and opposing team scored one. The score was 5:5, so the last several minutes were super intense. We landed an extra goal in the last two minutes before the game ended, and succeeded in holding the lead despite the opposing team becoming desperately aggressive.”

“I think the opposing team was too eager to win. Being too competitive sometimes doesn’t help in this game,” Rachel said, and we could see why she was one of the team leaders with this very positive outlook.

The most impressive game Tianyi played was the U12 Tournament in Beijing last year. His team didn’t lose a single match.

“The moment of scoring is very exciting. Of course we lost sometimes, but that didn’t frustrate us into performing poorly during the next game,” Tianyi said.

“As a parent, I totally understand other parents’ concerns,” said Tianyi’s mother, “I always tell Tianyi to play fair and square, respect other players, and don’t regard winning as the only purpose.”

“The pleasure of winning of course comes with the frustrations of losing. I think for the children, learning how to face failure and overcome it is more important than enjoying the pleasure of victory,” said Rachel’s mom.

“They lost in a game in Hong Kong. They played really hard and were so upset when the opponents were celebrating. Rachel controlled herself until I told her that it was ok to cry.”

Hearing what her mom said, Rachel kissed her head and became quiet in thought.

“One of the team members asked to be taken out during a game due to feeling unwell, but Charlie’s team didn’t quit and played harder. I was so moved by their spirit and attitude,” Charlie’s Dad recollected. “Learning to balance winning and losing is a major process of growing-up.”

Even though practicing hockey is very demanding, these children also perform well in their studies, as well as other hobbies. In addition to hockey, Tianyi also plays baseball and piano, and helps his mom do housework.

“He is very independent, and even helps me cook and take care of his younger sister,” his mom added.

Tianxin, his younger sister, has been learning dancing and piano, which may seem quite the opposite of this very physical contact sport. Charlie is excellent at swimming and is also an ABRSM level-5 piano player. Rachel likes all kinds of sports, and is learning the Chinese flute and French.

“I found out that good hockey players also do great in other areas. I think it is the spirit of not giving up they gained from playing hockey and this works additionally in other areas of interest,” said Rachel’s mom.

At the end of the interview, Rachel read one of her favorite lines of poetry from The Biography of Yue Fei: “Don’t waste your youth and regret fruitlessly when moving forward into old age.”

We could tell when talking to these active kids that regret, especially regarding hockey, was the furthest thing from their minds, as they were gaining all of the necessary tools to live their lives in the moment. This is an invaluable attribute that follow them on and off the ice for many years to come.

Photo: fatherly.com

This article appeared on p48-51 beijingkids’ November 2017 issue.
Download your copy here.

Like many of us, you may be wondering: How on earth was Beijing chosen for the Winter Olympics? It doesn’t even snow here! Can you even ski in Beijing? Well actually yes you can, right this very second if you want to.

You see there’s actually already a large indoor snow dome right here in Shunyi, where you can go skiing any day of the year. With the temperature kept at a rather pleasant -1 Celsius it makes both a nice escape from the summer heat and a good place to practice for the winter to come. With beginner to advanced slopes and even a snow park to hone your tricks in, it has enough to keep everyone entertained.

Of course a big refrigerator is all very well, but isn’t skiing supposed to take place on, y’know, actual mountains? Where might those be? Again, right on your doorstep. Beijing is surrounded by almost as many ski resorts as there are mountains and many of them are just an hour away from downtown. Perhaps the best known is Nanshan Ski Centre in Miyun District, with its 12 ski runs for those who are still learning the basics and want a smooth progression up the skiing ladder.

Jundushan over in Changping, which has one seriously challenging runwith a 40 degree pitchaimed squarely at experts. Huaibei Resort in Huairou is famous for being nestled right beside the Great Wall, and one of the chosen destinations for ski tour organizers such as imagine-china.com. These are just three of the most established skiing opportunities, but more are opening up every time winter comes around! Don’t worry about the lack of natural snowfall either. Resorts compensate for this like they do indoors by using state of the art snow machines to ensure there is no shortage of the white stuff.

That’s Beijing, but where are the Olympic skiing events going to happen? Could you really create an Olympic standard mountain here to suit all the Games’ needs? OK you’ve got me there, not all the skiing events are going to take place in Beijing – they will be shared with Zhangjiakou in Hebei Province, 160km North East. Not that that is a bad thing. It might seem like a bit of a trek,but the government has given the go ahead to start building a new high-speed train line from Beijing to Zhangjiakou, which when finished will whisk you there in only 45 minutes. I’m willing to bet most people’s morning commute takes longer than that.

Like in Beijing, Zhangjiakou’s multiple ski hills lie in the outskirts of the city, with the Nordic and Freestyle events taking place in Chongli County. Some resorts such as Wanlong, currently one of the biggest resorts in China but with a whole new ski area opening last season alone, have been around for a many years now. This is also where some of the Olympic snowboarding events will take place but it will share that privilege with Taiwu, a brand new resort that is scheduled to open this coming season and is promising up to 78 hectares of skiable terrain.

The Luge and Alpine Skiing events are scheduled to take place in Yanqing County close to the North West border with Hebei Province and about half way to Zhangjiakou. The Downhill event is planned to take place on one of the highest mountains within the borders of Beijing starting at 2190 meters going down to 1360 meters at the finish point. Because unlike in, say, Kitzbuhel in Austria, which has an established ski racing scene, the downhill run or resort doesn’t actually exist yet – it will have to be built from scratch. A lot of work perhaps but they have 6 and a half years to get it ready, andif the last Olympics are anything to go by, I think we can trust in China’s ability to deliver on wildly ambitious, multi-billion dollar promises.

So really the question you should be asking yourself isn’t, “can I ski in Beijing?” but more “when can I start?”

About the Author
Ben La Brooy is a Canadian-trained ski instructor working for Imagine., who provide English-speaking, qualified ski instructors for people curious to experience Beijing’s ski life. You can find out more at www.imagine-china.com or email Ben@imagine-china.com any time.

Photo: Courtesy of Imagine.

With the mounting popularity of skating, more and more Chinese parents spare no expense in letting their children learn the sport in skates or skateboards that are easy to get in sites like myproscooter.com, this in the hope of providing them with an extra skill that may help them stand out in the future or experience a richer, more complete lifestyle.

Chen Lu, the once Winter Olympic champion skater, as well as the founder of the Chen Lu International Skating Club, has been teaching skating for nearly a decade.

“There will be many limitations if you only care about winning medals. The main reason that drives me to promote skating is to cultivate this kind of athletic spirit that will have a life-long positive impact on children,” Chen said.

So what exactly does this “spirit of the athlete” refer to? The pains and gains, along with the ups and downs that exist in figure skating may give us a brand new perspective on this.

A Fair Dose of “Craziness” Is Necessary
Chen comes from Jilin province in North China. When she was young, it was an age without too much entertainment for young people. Skating was basically the only way for local children to entertain themselves when winter arrived.

Chen started skating when she was only four and a half years old, and she can still clearly remember the excitement she felt the first time even though decades have passed from this initial experience.

“I love skating so much that I wish I could live on the ice,” Chen laughed. She never gave up the sport of skating since she began.

Both of her parents who were also professional athletes laid the foundation for Chen Lu’s athletic career. Training for figure skating was even tougher at that time because there were no inside skating rinks for practice. Being in the amateur group, Chen’s training schedule was always at the crack of dawn.

“It was minus 40 degrees outside. I was still half asleep when my dad escorted me to the training area. We usually started at four in the morning, sometimes two.”

It sounds like a challenging schedule even for adults, let alone a four-year-old. When asked what sustained her, Chen said without hesitation, “Interest is the best teacher. I love skating and dancing, which both happen to be the basis of figure skating.”

Based on her own experience, Chen always urges the coaches to be creative in stimulating their students’ interests in skating. Parents’ understanding and support are also super important, especially when their children are too young to have self-control and persistence.

“My dad never pushed me hard but used a couple of tricks to encourage me. He would spend hours every day sharpening my skates because we couldn’t afford new ones.”

Chen always jokes that there are always “crazy” parents behind successful children. “The impact from parents is immeasurable. The principle my dad kept cultivating in me is to stay calm, be composed, and be fearless, which has encouraged me for a lifetime.”

Anna, Chen Lu’s daughter

Practicing sports should be a part of your daily itinerary rather than a half-hearted job.  “As long as you tried your best,” that’s what Chen usually says to her children.

Chen has a daughter and a son. Her son doesn’t like skating, but loves tennis and has been playing for seven years now. Anna, the daughter, loves skating so much that she doesn’t want to leave the rink every time after they train.

“I like being dressed up pretty for figure skating,” Anna told us was the original reason she got into the sport.

During the 2017 Asian Junior Figure Skating Championships, Anna grabbed the top spot for the Beijing group. Before the competition, Anna didn’t feel well and suspended training for a week. Her dad suggested that maybe she shouldn’t attend, but Anna insisted “I’ll try my best no matter what the result.”
Chen said she saw many similarities between her daughter and herself.

“I think I got this from my parents. I was very competitive and always tried to finish the movements perfectly. I barely feel the pressure of competition but rather enjoy it.”

That’s also how Anna does during the training: always trying to do better. According to Chen Lu, a well-arranged schedule is very important. “Stick to the schedule until you get used to it without feeling any reluctance to keep it going.”

Comparing it to other competitive sports, figure skating is more comprehensive as it combines music, dancing, and image design. Children can learn a variety of new things from this sport.

“Anna has her own ideas and unique sense of aesthetics. She now listens to all kinds of music including opera, and discusses with me how she will choose a costume and design her choreography to go along with the song.”

Chen thinks mastering a type of sport not only improves your physical fitness but leads to a more positive and social life.

“Many of my students went on to study abroad, and being good at figure skating has played an active role in their social life.”

You Are Competing with Nobody but Yourself
During the interview, Chen brought up one sentence several times—If you can endure the pain of professional training, you won’t think other problems in life are difficult to handle.

“Being a professional athlete, one faces new challenges every day. Every day is a new beginning to surpass yourself. After tough and tiring training, you feel so fulfilled.”

When asked what’s the biggest change figure skating brought to her life, Chen found it difficult to just mention one.

“I achieved success, honor, and applause, and I also met my husband, thanks to figure skating. What’s more, I think figure skating gave me a good way to vent my emotions, which is more important for us in these high-pressure and quick-paced times.”

It also helps that Chen listens to lots of music and can visualize the skating movements that match with these songs.

Some of Chen’s students now are studying abroad at some of the top universities. Though none of these students became professional figure skaters, the positive attitude they had toward skating training contributed partly to their current success.

“Chinese students have very tight study schedules. One of my students insisted taking figure skating classes even though she had tons of homework to do: ‘My studies are very stressful. Figure skating now is the only thing that relaxes me. I won’t give up skating no matter how busy my studies are.’ That’s exactly what I want to tell parents: By practicing figure skating persistently, children will develop a positive attitude to face challenges, rather than a spoiled child who can’t handle the burden of any pressure whatsoever.”

“When standing in the skating rink, you’re competing with no one but yourself. Every tiny progress you make is the result of your hard work. Be the star of your own film. That’s the kind of faith that maintains your persistence and allows you to grow stronger.”

Photos: Dave’s Studio and courtesy of Chen Lu

This article appeared on p54-56 of beijingkids November 2017 issue.
Download your copy here.

As the winter approaches maximum chill, ice skating returns as a favorite winter pastime and Beijing has plenty of indoor and outdoor rinks to glide on.

Weather permitting, for a fun physical outing with friends, try one of the city’s many lakes. Be sure to follow directions regarding which areas are frozen solid, usually indicated by poles or flags. Shichahai skating rink is one of Beijing’s more popular outdoor skating areas, located on Houhai Lake. Prices of admission range from RMB 5 on weekdays to RMB 10 on weekends and another RMB 10-15 for skate rental depending on duration of use.

Another favorite outdoor rink is at Beihai Park, which offers the same style of old-school skating but is much less crowded than Houhai Lake. Be careful,though: these outdoor lakes are rigid and bumpy and the rental skates are not the best for those who are more advanced skaters looking to show off their skills. The views of the traditional white pagoda and the park’s fantastic scenery make this outdoor rink ideal for skating with a big group. For those who aren’t keen on skates, ice bikes are a good substitute rental. These three-pronged cycles allow for two or three people and make for improvised sleighs and a good game of ice bike bumper cars.

Read more here

This post first appeared in thebeijinger site on January 8, 2014

File beijingkids photo

Searching for that bit of wintery fun this weekend? Despite an extreme lack of snow, or any precipitation for that matter, there are still plenty of skating and even skiing options around the city.

Skating

Qianhai (Houhai)
The city’s most popular outdoor ice-skating venue features ice sleighs and skates for rent (RMB 20/day). RMB 10/15 weekdays/ends. Check out our recent post on spending the day at and around Houhai.
Early morning to dusk. Qianhai, north side of Beihai Park, Xihai Beiyan, Xicheng District. (6612 5717) 后海地区, 西城区西海北沿(北海公园以北)

All Star Ice Rink
Located on the first floor of Solana mall, the ice rink covers 800 square meters and is fit for both entertainment and professional competition. All-Star offers kids’ classes staffed by coaches from the Chinese national skating team. Private lessons (Chinese only) are RMB 135/40min. RMB 30 (weekday), RMB 50 (weekend).
Daily 10am-10pm. 1/F, Solana Lifestyle Shopping Park, 6 Chaoyang Gongyuan Lu, Chaoyang District. (5905 6328) 全明星滑冰俱乐部,朝阳区朝阳公园路6号蓝色港湾国际商区首层

Century Star Club (Capital Indoor Stadium Ice Rink)
Offers ice skating lessons in a slightly smaller than regulation-size rink. Private lessons are priced at RMB 300/90min; group lessons start at RMB 75/90min.
Hours vary each day; call or check online for open times. B/F, Capital Gymnasium, 54 Zhongguancun Nandajie, Haidian District. (6834 6346) www.centurystar.com.cn 世纪星滑冰俱乐部,海淀区中关村南大街54号首都体育馆

Champion Skating Rink
RMB 30 (10-11.30am) weekdays for 1.5 hours, including shoes, RMB 40 (11.30am-5pm), weekdays after 5pm and weekends RMB 50/1.5 hours. RMB 10 more for every additional 30 minutes.
Daily 10am-9.30pm. B2/F, Jinyuan Shopping Mall, Yuanda Lu, Haidian District. (8887 4899) 军滑冰场, 海淀区远大路金源购物中心地下2层

Hokay Skating Center
Aside from hosting international hockey competitions, Hokay is also a great venue for figure skating. Various training classes on offer and the friendly, professional coaches are available at all times to provide assistance. RMB 45/90 min, plus RMB 10 for skate rental.
Daily noon-8pm. Inside Xinglong Gongyuan, Gaobeidian, Chaoyang District. (8577 8001) 浩沙冰上运动中心, 朝阳区高碑店兴隆公园内

Le Cool
Chills and spills for skaters and shoppers at this small indoor rink in the World Trade Center. Be warned that the rink can get seriously crowded with ice princesses on holidays and weekend afternoons. RMB 120/150 for a 40-minute private lesson. Weekdays: RMB 30 for 90 min (10am-6pm), RMB 40 for 90 min (6-10pm). Weekends: RMB 50 for 90 min. Skate rental included.
Mon-Sat 10am-10pm, Sun 10am-7pm. B2/F, China World Shopping Mall, 1 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District. (6505 5776, lecool@cwtc.com) www.lecoolicerink.com

The Ice Zone
This small rink in Shunyi offers skating classes for beginners and intermediates, private lessons, 3-on-3 ice hockey programs, and beginners’ hockey for adults and children. Unlimited time on the ice is RMB 50 (weekends) and RMB 30 (weekdays) and includes skate rental. Private lesson needs to reserve before visiting for RMB 150 (CN)/300 (EN) per hour.
Daily noon-4pm. River Garden Clubhouse, 2/F (access from Yuyang Lu), 7 Yuyang Lu, Houshayu, Shunyi District. (8046 6092, info@icezonechina.com) www.icezonechina.com 冰点地带,顺义区裕京花园会所2楼(入口在裕京路)榆阳路7号

Xiyue Ice Skating
This indoor facility spans 1,000 square meters. 90 minutes of ice time (including shoes) costs RMB 35 (weekdays) or RMB 45 (nights and weekends).
Daily 10am-9.30pm. Xidan Cultural Centre (in 77th Street), Xicheng District. (6602 0050) 喜悦溜冰场, 西城区西单文化广场77街

Zilongxiang Ice Rink
RMB 16 per hour for children, RMB 26 for adults.
Tuesday-Sunday, close on Monday 9am-9pm. North gate of Ditan Park, A14 Hepingli Zhongjie, Dongcheng District. (6429 1619) 紫龙祥滑冰馆, 东城区和平里中街甲14号地坛公园北门

Zizhuyuan Park
This well-known park in Haidian has ice sleighs for rent (price TBD). Entrance is free.
Daily 8am-6pm. 45 Baishiqiao Lu, Haidian District. (8841 2830) 紫竹院公园, 海淀区白石桥路45号

Skiing, Snow Parks and Festivals

Snow Festival at the Bird’s Nest
With the aim to seek "more non-profit social benefits" while "hosting top-level events," the Bird’s Nest is running a two-month snow festival starting from December 19. People can ski and snowboard on 20 man-made slopes and also have the opportunity to enjoy games and performances. The festival will coincide with countdown events for both the Western and Chinese new years. RMB 120(RMB 180 on weekends and holidays).
Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, weekends and holidays 9am-9.30pm. National Stadium. Olympic Green, Beichen Lu, Chaoyang District. 国家体育场. 朝阳区朝阳区北辰路奥林匹克公园

Yaunmingyuan Ice and Snow Festival
Beijing’s newest snow park, the Old Summer Palace has been turned into a winter wonderland until February 17. The park offers everything from skiing, skating, dog sledding, horse rides, and more. For an insider’s look at the park check out our blog here.
Ice and Snow Festival, Yuanmingyuan (Old Summer Palace). 28 Qinghua Lu, Haidian. Subway Line 4, exits A and B. RMB30 (entry ticket only) Open Daily 9-5pm, from December 22 to February 17.

Nanshan Ski Village
The most popular ski resort in the area offers 21 trails to accommodate all skill levels and terrain preferences. The largest snowboard park in the country, Quicksilver Nanshan Mellow Park, is sure to tame even the wildest daredevils out there. It also has the latest rental equipment, 150 certified instructors in its snow school, two modern high-speed quad lifts, a double lift, and 13 rope tows. Prices vary depending on how long you want to ski or ride. RMB 100-220 per person (Mon-Fri); RMB 150-360 (Sat-Sun). Entrance fee: RMB 20. A RMB 200 deposit is required for rentals; if none are needed, there’s a 40 percent discount on the overall price. Located 62 km from Wanghe Bridge, it’s a 30-minute drive on the Jingcheng Expressway. Daily round trip shuttles (RMB 30) leave from Wudaokou and Sanyuanqiao.
Shengshuitou Village, Miyun County. (8909 1909) www.nanshanski.com 南山滑雪场, 密云河南寨镇圣水头村

Qiaobo Ice and Snow World
Named after the first Chinese person to win a Winter Olympic medal, Qiaobo is an indoor, year-round resort in Beijing. It’s great for beginners, with instructors and rentals ready to help you down 200-meter and 300-meter long runs. There is also a five-obstacle snow park and a 30-meter long children’s trail. Prices come in all sorts of different packages depending on what activities you want to do (RMB 180-898).
6 Shun’an Lu, Shunyi District (8497 2568) www.qbski.com 乔波冰雪世界, 顺义区顺安路6号

Jundushan Ski Resort
Located just 30 km from downtown Beijing, this resort is great for seasoned skiers who just want to get some runs in. Also ideal for beginners and intermediates. The seven trails, which meet international standards, are served by two-person cable tows. Night skiing is an option during the week. RMB 60-240 (Mon-Fri), RMB 80-380 (Sat-Sun). Entrance fee: RMB 20. Night skiing: RMB 100 (including dinner).
588 Zhenshun Village, Cuicun Town, Changping District (6072 5888) www.bjski.com.cn

Wanlong Ski Resort
For the more serious skiers and boarders, this resort offers 19 runs, 13 of which are for advanced skill levels. This was the first resort to open in China and remains popular with its longer season and favorable conditions. RMB 400 for a whole day. Rentals: RMB 660 for a whole day.
Congli County, Zhangjiakou City, Hebei. (+31 3461 7676) www.wlski.com 万龙滑雪场, 河北省张家口市崇礼县红花梁