Olympic Fever, Fresh Powder: Beijing's Snowy Slopes Heat Up Ahead of 2022 Winter Games

Now that our fair capital has successfully ascended the steep summit that was its 2022 Winter Olympic bid, it’s time for Beijingers to enjoy the thrill quickly zipping downhill. At least that’s the conclusion that Justin Downes has reached, as he works with to help upgrade several local resorts ahead of the games. The Canadian born president of Axis Leisure Management says that

“The buzz created by the Olympics, and the President's pronouncement stating that over 300 million people will get involved in winter sports, has certainly motivated the developers and operators to pick up their game. The quality of infrastructure and also the services being planned and provided is in many cases reaching leading global standards. There is still a ways to go, but it is leaps and bounds ahead of where things were five years ago and is steadily improving.”

Below, we’ve detailed some of the most exciting places to carve fresh powder near Beijing this winter.

Chongli Fulong
Like freshly fallen powder, this new resort will entice Beijing skiers with its 70,000 sqm snow park, night skiing, an art and musical snow ground, and more. It also (more importantly) features a 750,000-square-meter ski area with 37 slopes at various levels of difficulty, along with six high speed lifts and nine magic carpets. Opens for the season on November 30, ticket prices TBC (0313 569 0025 or 185 0115 1555).    

How to get there:

By car: Off the toll of Chongli North, turn left and drive 1,000m.

Genting Resort Secret Garden
This resort has been a longtime favorite for skiers, which will still be the case this year thanks to its 35 trails (10 advanced trails, 17 intermediate trails, two beginners trails, and six wild trials). But snowboarders will have equal cause to rejoice at Secret Garden, thanks to its new Olympic sized half pipe. Opens for the season on November 5, tickets start at RMB 700 for a four-day pass (lift and equipment) on weekdays and weekends, RMB 1,450 (lift and equipment) for a two-day pass during national holidays (400 168 1234, secretgardenresorts.com).

How to get there:
By shuttle: There are a few shuttles leaving every morning from Guomao Station (7am departure), Huixinxijie Nankou Station (7.45am departure), and Jiandemen Station (8am departure). The same shuttle leaves the resort at 4pm and stops at the same stops on the way back.
By car: At Beijing Jianxiangqiao take the G6 Expressway to the Chongli South Exit, and keep going until you reach Genting Resort Secret Garden.
By bus: At Beijiao station go to Beijing Jianxiangqiao, transfer at Chongli District station, then change again to Genting Resort Secret Garden.

Nanshan
This is arguably the most famous and most popular skiing spot in the greater Beijing area, boasting 25 trails. It’s also a major hit with snowboarders, thanks to its snowboarding park. It also features special new amenities this season like the Shirton Inn log cabin and a Norwegian Villa. Opens for the season latest December 1, prices start at RMB 165 for four-hour pass (entry and equipment) on weekdays to RMB 295 for the entire day (entry and equipment) on weekends and national holidays (8909 3301, 8909 3302).

How to get there:
By car: Take the Jingcheng express way to the No.16 Miyun Downtown Exit (exit after the express way). Go straight and follow the signs to Nanshan Ski Village.
By shuttle bus: Shuttle buses every day depart at 8.30am from three stops (Sanyuan Bridge, Shaoyaoju subway station and Wudaokou subway station) (Wed-Sun RMB 45 return, Mon-Tue RMB 25 return, book in advance on 8909 1909).
By bus: Take bus 980 at Dongzhimen and get off at West Bridge (every five minutes, RMB 14), and then go to Nanshan Ski Vacation Village by taxi (approximately RMB 25).

Thaiwoo Ski Resort
This winter, the year old Thaiwoo resort has further improved its already impressive 18km of ski trails and 500m of vertical drops, open and enlarging its terrain park so that visitors can enjoy even more off-piste skiing. It will also open five new top-of-the-line hotels over the next six months. Opens for the season November 5, prices start at RMB 480 for a four-hour pass (lift and equipment) on weekdays to RMB 1,600 for a two-day pass (lift and equipment) during the national holidays (400 601 3300).

How to get there:
By high-speed train: The Beijing-Zhangjialou train can be taken at Beijing North Railway Station to the entrance of Thaiwoo Ski Resort (Chongli, Zhangjiakou). It takes about 50 minutes.  

Other local slopes
Duolemeidi (400 080 1810), Jundushan (6072 5888, bjski.com.cn), Vanke Shijinglong Ski Resort, Wanlong (0313 478 5111, wlski.com), Yuyang (8485 6362, yuyangski.com.cn).

This article originally appeared in the Nov/Dec 2016 issue of the Beijinger, which you can read here via Issuu, via the PDF here, or in hard copy at all of your favorite venues across town.

Photos courtesy of the resorts