Changbaishan Ski Resorts are located in and near Changbaishan Nature Reserve in Jilin Province, Northeast China.
With its amazing ice and snow scenery, great snow quality for skiing, and being one of the most famous and unique mountains in China, Changbaishan ('Forever-White Mountain') is a very popular destination for a fantastic winter tour. Skiing cannot be missed for the perfect Changbaishan tour.
There are mainly four ski resorts around Changbaishan. Among them, Jilin Wanda Changbaishan International Ski Resort is definitely most recommended. It has been one of the training bases for China's national alpine ski team and China's national Nordic (Cross-Country) ski team.
1. Jilin Wanda Changbaishan International Ski Resort
Located within the Wanda International Resort, Jilin Wanda Changbaishan International Ski Resort is the biggest ski resort in the Changbaishan area. Its skiing open season is from mid-November to April.
2 Skiing Service Centers
There are two skiing service centers in the resort: Guosong and Xiaozhen ('Little Town'). Both provide cable cars to the summit.
Xiaozhen Service Center is bigger than Guosong. It has more beginner and middle-class slopes, thus more skiers gather in this center.
For absolute beginners, however, we suggest Guosong Service Center as you'll meet fewer skiers there and so can worry less about sliding into others. Of course, the distance to your hotel is also an important factor when making your choice.
Opening times
Daytime ticket: 8:30am–4:30pm (You can ski until nightfall if you hold a daytime entry ticket.)
Night ticket: 4–9pm
Amazing View from the Ski Resort
It is surrounded by the dense forests of Changbaishan Nature Reserve, which further enhances the beauty of the resort. You can take cable cars to reach the piste tops easily.
There is a restaurant at the top of the resort's slopes, proving coffees, snacks, and some easily-cooked dishes. Taking a seat with a cup of coffee overlooking the mountains is such an amazing thing, especially at sunset.
Ski Trails
Changbaishan Ski Resort has two alpine pistes totaling 3,000 meters, each with an intermediate-level slope.
There are also two Nordic trails measuring in all about 5,000 meters, which pass through pristine forests, with optional stretches that are designed for skiing acrobatics, aka freestyle skiing (these stretches can accommodate a maximum of 100 persons, due to concerns for skier safety).
The pistes and trails at Changbaishan are maintained in a well-groomed state. Snowfall is plentiful there during the prime, November to April season, and the constant freezing winter temperatures ensures deep snow on the pistes and trails.
The ski resort has a single cable car that delivers skiers to a common jumping off point. Snowboarding is also welcomed. As a supplement to the cable car, one can hire a snowmobile to get to other, off-piste destinations such as the rim of the Changbaishan-Tianchi volcano.
Convenient Location and Facilities
Located in the Wanda International Resort, Jilin Wanda Changbaishan International Ski Resort is around 30 minutes by car from Changbaishan Airport.
The Resort provides a diversity of hotel options, priced from a few hundred yuan to thousands. No matter whether you're traveling as couple, friends, or family, you can find an ideal place to stay. Most hotels provide shuttle buses to and from airport. The inclusive free hot spring tickets and skiing tickets are the icing on the cake.
In addition, food is another highlight in Wanda Ski Resort. There is a food street in Wanda Resort. You can find various foods and restaurants within walking distance to meet your taste: Northeast-style, North-Korea-style, high-end Western restaurants, Sichuan hot pot, KFC, McDonald's, etc.
Friendly Skiing Training
There are the usual support facilities there, such as a ski training center and a ski equipment rental center.
The resort has a team of professional ski instructors to help the novice get started and advance quickly, or to aid more experienced skiers in perfecting their various techniques.
2. Luneng Shengdi Ski Resort — Switzerland-style scenery
Luneng Shengdi Ski Resort is again about 30 minutes by car from Changbaishan Airport. The size of the ski resort is smaller than Wanda's.
Advantages:
- It is friendly for skiing beginners as there are much fewer travelers.
- Beautiful views like in Switzerland, good for photos
- Quietness
Disadvantages:
- Few restaurants nearby. You can eat in the resort or hire a car to Wanda Resort (about 30 minutes' driving)
- Less hotel options. Consider Swissôtel Resort Changbaishan (5*) and The View Changbai Mountain – MGallery (5*).
3. Changbaishan Tianchixue Ski Resort
Tianchixue ('Heavenly Lake Snow') Ski Resort is less popular than Wanda Ski Resort and Luneng Resort because of its still smaller area and relatively remote location. However, it is nearer to Heavenly Lake. There is no cable car in this resort.
4. Baishan Ski Resort
Baishan Ski Resort is the nearest ski resort to Baishan city center, so it is popular with local people. It is very small and about 100 km (2 hours) from Changbaishan's scenic area and airport, thus we don't recommend it to tourists from other areas.
Why Changbaishan Is So Popular
Mount Changbai is a dormant volcano. The view of Heavenly Lake (Tianchi) nestled in the volcano's caldera is said to be priceless.
There are also many other snow and ice scenic wonders, like a hot spring river surrounded by rime, a (part) frozen waterfall, and strangely shaped rocks in a volcanic gorge.
The snow quality at Changbaishan is said to compare to that of the alpine regions of France and Italy.
Located on the border between China and North Korea, it is the most sacred ancient mountain to Koreans. In ancient times, Korea — the ancient Gojoseon Kingdom — was not limited to the Korean Peninsula, but extended northward into southern Manchuria (present-day Liaoning, Jilin, and Heilongjiang provinces) as well as Inner Mongolia and Russia.
Read more about Changbaishan's many attractions on our Changbaishan Travel Guide.
Skiing at Changbaishan with Us
Contact us for any more help or answers you need for your Changbaishan skiing tour, or to have us tailor-make an itinerary for you. Consider touring more of Northeast China with Changbaishan… See our suggested, but fully-customizable, tour plan for inspiration: