As White as Snow

Many choose to go into hibernation whenever the weather dips below a certain temperature and while I am not a fan of the cold, I am a snow bunny.  There’s something about fresh powder (ie pure, white snow) that calls me out play.

Beijing witnessed another decent dump of snow this weekend, and I soaked it up to the nth degree.

Until this weekend, I had only been to Nanshan Snow Park to get my fix of winter sports, but Wang Long Ski Resort is a whole other experience.  It’s quite a bit farther away (about 4-6 hour drive depending on traffic), but a proper ski resort in terms of the height of the mountain, length of runs and range of difficulty. For those who know what they’re doing and crave a run that lasts longer than 5 minutes, Wang Long is your answer.  But I would still recommend Nanshan for beginners (shorter runs that are easier to learn on), experts (best snow park around with big kickers and tricks for jumping) and those who want just a day of fun in the snow (much more accessible for a day trip rather than an overnight trip to Wanglong).

Growing up in Sacramento, I spent most winter weekends up in Lake Tahoe, so I was stoked to discover Wang Long – Beijing’s closest bet to a proper ski resort.

LumDimSum Snapshots of Snow Bunny Action at Wang Long’s Ski Resort:

After a full day of snowboarding, I went on a beautiful 6-hour hike up Yangtai Mountain.  Covered in snow, it was truly a winter wonderland.  I highly recommend Yangtai if you enjoy getting out of the city for a moderate hike offering beautiful scenic views.  As it was snowing most of our hike, the visibility off the mountain was not good, but to be surrounded by everything covered in white was one of the most serene and blissful feelings imaginable.

To get out there, head to the bus stop by the Summer Palace West Gate and hop on bus #346 and get off at Bei An He Xi Kou 北安和西口。

LumDimSum Snapshots of Yangtai Mountain Trek: