From the powder snow of the North-east to Xinjiang’s long winter season, taking in the Chongli resorts energised by the Beijing Olympics and the year-round indoor ski centres, China is now one of Asia’s most promising and varied ski destinations.
This article presents a selection of ski resorts across different cities, highlighting their distinctive features, the budgets to plan for, and practical tips. Keep reading to find out more!
⛄ Can you ski in China?
Absolutely, and there are plenty of options. The country now boasts over 800 ski resorts, including several dozen large-scale professional facilities, spread across the Northeast, Xinjiang, Hebei, East China, the Southwest, and many other regions.
China’s ski offering is remarkably diverse: from beginner-friendly slopes to training bases for experienced skiers, taking in high-altitude resorts and urban indoor ski domes along the way.
Why is skiing in China a good idea?
- Abundant snowfall: the North-east and Xinjiang boast generous natural snow cover, with dry, light powder snow.
- Modernised facilities: the Olympic Games have enabled resorts like Chongli to reach international standards.
- Easy access: many major resorts are directly accessible by high-speed train.
- All-inclusive packages: destinations like Changbaishan or Chongli offer hotels, spas and restaurants for a stay in complete comfort.
- For all abilities: From travel photographers to professional skiers, everyone will find a ski resort to suit their needs.
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❄️ Ski Season in China: When & Where to Go
Because of the wide range of climates across the country, China’s ski season isn’t the same everywhere: it can run from October to April the following year, or even all year round (indoors).
Region | Seasonal period | Features |
North-East (Heilongjiang / Jilin) | November to March | Very low temperatures guaranteeing stable snow; an abundance of natural snow; China’s most developed ski region. |
Altay, Xinjiang | October to April | Exceptional powder quality in Asia; varied natural terrain on the slopes; suitable for advanced skiers. |
Chongli, Hebei (near Beijing) | late November to mid-March | An Olympic venue with extensive artificial snowmaking capacity; pistes maintained to international standards, ideal for intermediate to advanced skiers. |
Yulong Snow Mountain, Yunnan | variable depending on snow conditions | High-altitude experience centre, often combined with a sightseeing stay in Lijiang. |
Xiling Snow Mountain, Sichuan | December to February | Short season, but stunning scenery in the mountains of the South-West; ideal for discovery-oriented skiing. |
Indoor ski resorts (Shanghai, etc.) | all year round | No seasonal restrictions, perfect for beginners and short experiences in urban settings. |
Summary of the characteristics of the ski season in China:
- The most stable ski season is in the north-east and the Chongli region.
- The earliest opening usually takes place in Altay, Xinjiang (October).
- Best time for powder snow: mid-December to February.
- During Chinese New Year festivities: prices increase by 30–100%, advance booking recommended.
❤️ 5 Unmissable Ski Resorts in China
The following five ski resorts are among China’s most iconic ski destinations.
Yabuli Ski Resort (Harbin New Sports Base)
📍 Location: Shangzhi, Heilongjiang
🔥 Highlights:
- High-quality powder snow, with low temperatures guaranteeing stable snow
- Former training ground for many Chinese professional teams
- Nearby resorts and hotels with well-designed hot spring facilities
🧩 Target audience:
- Intermediate to advanced skiers
- Those who want to enjoy an authentic skiing experience in the North East
- Fans of professional training or long-distance gliding
💡 On-site facilities and services:
- Numerous equipment hire locations, full kit provided
- Several rest areas (heated)
- A wide range of restaurants at the stations (Northeastern cuisine, light dishes, buffets)
- A wide range of accommodation, from budget options to luxury resorts
👉 Budget for 2 days and 1 night: £150–£250 per person
Changbaishan Wanda International Ski Resort
📍 Location: Baishan, Jilin
🔥 Highlights:
- Stable, fine snow, nicknamed 'China’s little Hokkaido'.
- A complete resort experience: hotels, restaurants and hot springs
- Exceptional forest trail experience, unique scenery
🧩 Target audience:
- Families and couples
- Travellers prioritising a ski-and-relax experience
- Suitable for beginners through to intermediate/advanced skiers
💡 On-site facilities and services:
- Official Unified Equipment Rental Centre
- Relaxation areas in the lobbies of facilities and hotels
- Resort featuring: hot springs, a shopping centre, branded hotels (Hyatt, Sheraton, etc.)
👉 Budget for 2 days and 1 night: £190–£300 per person
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Glacier Park (Yulong Xueshan)
📍 Location: Lijiang, Yunnan
🔥 Highlights:
- One of the highest-altitude ski experiences in the world (over 4,000 m)
- Spectacular scenery, ideal for photography
- With a more experiential focus, it doesn’t require advanced technical skills.
🧩 Target audience:
- Tourists
- First time skiing
- Visitors keen to discover high-altitude scenery
💡 On-site facilities and services:
- On-site ski equipment hire experience
- Oxygen supply points along the route
- Indoor relaxation area and an on-site restaurant serving light meals
👉 Budget for 2 days and 1 night: £100–£170 per person
Beidahu Ski Resort
📍 Location: Jilin City, Jilin
🔥 Highlights:
- A highly professional training base for national teams
- Long pistes ideal for perfecting your technique
- Long season, consistently reliable snow
🧩 Target audience:
- Intermediate to advanced skiers
- People looking to improve their technical skills
- Long-distance gliding enthusiasts
💡 On-site facilities and services:
- Official hire centre with specialist equipment
- Rest areas at the ski lifts and in the main hall
- Several on-site restaurants and cafés
- Club Med Beidahu offering an all-inclusive package
👉 Budget for 2 days and 1 night: £170–£270 per person
Wanlong Ski Resort
📍 Location: Chongli, Hebei
🔥 Highlights:
- One of Chongli’s four major resorts, with well-developed facilities
- A wide variety of pistes, ideal for improving
- The closest top-class skiing option to Beijing
🧩 Target audience:
- From beginners to advanced skiers
- Visitors to the Beijing region
- Skiers looking for a ski weekend with accommodation
💡 On-site facilities and services:
- Several hire locations, relatively new equipment
- Heated relaxation area in the equipment hall
- A varied selection of dining options (snacks, coffee, hot drinks)
- Plenty of accommodation options: hotels and holiday rentals
👉 Budget for 2 days and 1 night: £145–£240 per person
🏙️ Where can you ski near Beijing and Shanghai?
Shanghai: L+SNOW Indoor Skiing Theme Resort Shanghai
L+SNOW Indoor Skiing Theme Resort Shanghai, one of the city’s newest and most modern indoor ski resorts, attracts many beginners and young skiers with its immersive design and state-of-the-art facilities. Set within the city, it is easily accessible and an ideal choice for skiing without leaving the city.
🔥 Highlights:
- Advanced artificial snow and temperature control technology, ensuring stable snow quality and a realistic atmosphere all year round.
- Several runs dedicated to beginners and intermediates, with gentle slopes perfect for learning and improving your technique.
- A professional team of instructors is on hand, offering structured lessons that are perfectly tailored to skiers who are complete beginners.
- The complex also features dining, leisure and relaxation areas, making it easy to combine skiing and urban activities in a single outing.
Beijing and its surroundings
1. Chongli Ski Area: Wanlong, Thaiwoo, Genting, Fulong
Host region for the ski events of the Beijing Winter Olympics. Extensive network of slopes, modern facilities, and accessible by high-speed train. One of the ski areas offering the best all-round experience in China.
2. Nanshan Ski Village
About an hour’s drive from Beijing city centre. Ideal for beginners and families. Plenty of learning resources, perfect for a taster day.
3. Huaibei International Ski Resort
Located in the Huairou Mountains. Modest in size yet practical, suited to relaxed practice and training.
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🔥 Best ski resorts in China: The complete list
Station | City/Region | Recommended reasons | Ideal for |
Yabuli Ski Resort (New Sports Base) | Shangzhi, Heilongjiang | China’s largest traditional, professional ski resort, boasting a long season and comprehensive facilities. Perfect for discovering North-East China’s powder snow culture. | Intermediate to advanced |
Changbaishan Wanda Ski Resort | Baishan, Jilin | Forest slopes + hot springs, plenty of hotel options. One of the best ski-and-relaxation experiences in China. | Families, couples, intermediate to advanced skiers |
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Glacier Park | Lijiang, Yunnan | High-altitude skiing experience with exceptional views. Unique mountain scenery, ideal for photos and short sessions. | Visitors in search of altitude, photography enthusiasts |
Beidahu Ski Resort | Jilin City, Jilin | Training ground for national teams, with plenty of long pistes. Consistent snow quality and a professional focus. | Intermediate to advanced |
Wanlong Ski Resort | Chongli, Hebei | Olympic zone, high-quality pistes. One of the most suitable resorts for experienced skiers near Beijing. | From beginners to advanced skiers |
Thaiwoo Ski Resort and Village | Chongli, Hebei | A European resort vibe with a well-developed hotel scene. Ideal for an experience that combines skiing and relaxation. | Skiers of all levels |
Altay General Mountain Ski Resort | Altai (Altay) Region, Xinjiang | Widely considered Asia’s powder-snow paradise, with a long ski season. Ideal for enthusiasts seeking deep powder. | Advanced skiers and lovers of natural snow |
Yabuli Sun Mountain Resort (Harbin) | Zhishang, Heilongjiang | High-end resort experience with comprehensive services. Ideal for a ski holiday that combines comfort with understated elegance. | People seeking a refined relaxation experience |
Shanghai Sunac Snow World | Shanghai | Indoor resort open all year round, easy to reach from the city. Perfect for a short first-time experience. | Beginners, city dwellers, families |
Mount Tai International Ski Resort | Tai'an, Shandong | Easy to reach, a leisure resort on the edge of the city. Ideal for a family weekend. | Beginners to intermediates, families with children |
Nanshan Ski Resort | Miyun, Beijing | A small, popular ski resort in Beijing. Ideal for a day trip. | Beginners |
Mount Xiling Ski Resort (Sichuan) | Chengdu, Sichuan | The largest natural snow resort in the South West, with stunning scenery. Gentle slopes, ideal for combining sightseeing and skiing. | Beginners to intermediates |
Snowplus Miracle from Shenzhen | Shenzhen, Guangdong | The world’s largest indoor ski complex, with 6 pistes and a vast snow play area. A constant temperature all year round, offering a resort-style entertainment experience. | Beginners, families, recreational skiers |
💰 Cost of Skiing in China: A Practical Budget Guide
Project | Budget resort | Medium-sized resort (Chongli / Jilin) | High-end resort (Changbaishan / Xinjiang) |
Day pass | £15 – £35 | £35 – £55 | £55 – £85 |
Equipment hire | £10 – £20 | £15 – £30 | £25 – £40 |
Beginner class (1 hour) | £20 – £35 | £35 – £55 | £55 – £85 |
Hotel (1 night) | £30 – £70 | £70 – £130 | £150 – £300 |
2-day budget | £70 – £130 | £130 – £210 | £250 – £500 |
** The prices shown are for guidance only and may vary depending on the season, current promotions, exchange rate fluctuations, and the specific policies of the resorts. We recommend checking the latest prices with the official providers before making any booking.
💡 Practical tips for skiing in China
How to choose the ski resort that’s right for you?
- Beginners / Families: Wintastar Shanghai, Shenzhen Snow World, Nanshan, Thaiwoo
- Intermediate and advanced skiers: Wanlong, Beidahu, Yabuli
- Powder snow enthusiasts: Altay (Xinjiang)
- For photos / tourist experience: Yulong Snow Mountain, Xiling Snow Mountain
Choosing and hiring equipment
- All ski resorts offer complete equipment hire (skis/snowboards, boots, poles, helmets, etc.).
- We strongly recommend bringing in person:
- Ski goggles (improved visibility, reduced glare)
- Gloves (personal hygiene and warmth)
- Technical underwear (moisture-wicking, quick-drying)
- Advanced skiers can bring their own kit for a more stable, precise feel on the snow.
Transport recommendations
1. Beijing → Chongli Resorts (Wanlong, Thaiwoo, Genting, Fulong)
Hop on the high-speed train from Qinghe or Beijing North stations to Taizicheng (around 1 hour). Free or paid shuttle buses from the stations/hotels will be waiting for you at the exit. It’s the most convenient option.
2. Shanghai → Indoor skiing (Wintastar Shanghai, NEO PARK)
Primarily accessible by metro + taxi. Ideal for a half-day or a relaxed day of skiing, without long journeys.
3. Skiing in the Northeast (Yabuli, Beidahu, Changbaishan)
Fly to Harbin / Changchun / Changbaishan Airport, then hop on a high-speed train or the resort shuttle. Safer and more reliable than driving in winter.
4. Altay Powder Snow Zone (Xinjiang)
Fly to Altay Airport, then hop on a resort or hotel shuttle. Hiring a car in winter is not advised due to unpredictable road and weather conditions.
General tip: Opt for the high-speed train + the official shuttle. In case of a snowstorm or high winds, allow extra time.
Weather conditions and safety guidelines
- Northeast and Xinjiang: temperatures can drop to between -20°C and -30°C, be sure to pack clothing suitable for extreme cold.
- Olympic resorts (Chongli): winds can be strong at times, pack face protection (balaclava, mask).
- Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Glacier Park: high-altitude station, risk of low oxygen; acclimatise gradually if necessary.
- It’s not advisable to ski on high-altitude pistes in thick fog, strong winds, or during heavy snowfall.
Ski instruction and linguistic communication
- In Chongli, Changbaishan, Shanghai and other major tourist destinations, many ski instructors speak English.
- In some areas of the North-East, English-language services may be limited. It is recommended to:
- Get a translation app ready (Google Translate, DeepL, etc.)
- Learn some basic skiing terms (for example: beginner / intermediate / ski pass / green run / blue run / red run / black run)
Booking and tips to avoid the crowds
- Prices can increase by 30% to 100% during Chinese holidays (Chinese New Year, Gregorian New Year, etc.).
- It’s advisable to book your accommodation and ski pass at least two weeks in advance.
- Opt for weekdays for a smoother skiing experience and shorter queues.
How can you make your skiing experience even better?
- First day: prioritise the green and blue pistes to find your feet again.
- Day two: gradually work your way up to more challenging slopes.
- Learn controlled falling and braking techniques for greater safety.
- Manage your energy in a balanced way to avoid excessive fatigue when skiing.
🧩 Skiing in China: Your FAQs Answered
Which ski resorts in China are best suited for beginners?
Thaiwoo, Nanshan, and Shanghai Sunac Snow World are excellent options thanks to their gentle slopes and well-equipped ski schools. Safety and supervision are top-notch for families. For a more complete experience, Changbaishan Resort is also a very good choice for beginners.Is skiing expensive in China?
Costs are generally lower than in Europe and comparable to or slightly cheaper than Japan. Smaller resorts and indoor centres are the most budget-friendly, while Chongli, Changbaishan or Altay are somewhat more expensive. Overall, skiing in China offers very attractive value for money.Where can you ski easily from Beijing and Shanghai?
From Beijing, Chongli (via high-speed train) and Nanshan (by car or shuttle) are the most convenient options. In Shanghai, Sunac Snow World and downtown indoor ski centres can be reached by metro or taxi. These destinations allow for easy skiing in half a day or over a weekend.