My First Snowboarding Trip Near Beijing!
I stumbled upon a snowboarding video and was immediately hooked! I just had to experience it myself. Since I didn't see many reviews of snowboarding near Beijing, I thought I'd share my experience with anyone who's interested.
The Essentials
Here's a breakdown of my trip:
- Total cost: Approximately 250 RMB
Choosing a Ski Resort
I incorporated this into a trip to Beijing. Beijing has several ski resorts, and I chose Nanshan Ski Village, the largest one. It's about a 1.5-hour drive from Beijing. You can take a bus from the city center for 50 RMB (round trip). The resort boasts a variety of slopes, including beginner-friendly slopes and advanced runs (accessible by cable car). Plus, the scenery is stunning!
Lift Tickets and Equipment
There are various ticket options available:
- Day pass: ~200 RMB
- Night pass: ~150 RMB
- Day + Night pass: ~220 RMB
The ticket price includes snowboard boots and a snowboard (single or double board, your choice).
What to Wear
You can bring your own gear or rent it at the resort. Typical snowboarding attire includes a waterproof jacket and pants, a helmet, and gloves. If you're worried about falling, you can rent additional padding for your arms, legs, and back. I only rented a jacket for 25 RMB. Renting a full set costs around 85 RMB, according to other reviews. If you want to take awesome pictures, renting might be the way to go, because sometimes the photos are more fun than the actual snowboarding!
A Day on the Slopes
Here's how my day went:
- 8:30 AM: Bus departs for the resort.
- 10:00 AM: Arrive at the resort, scan the ticket, and pay a 400 RMB deposit to get a resort card.
- All transactions within the resort are done using this card. Any remaining balance is refunded when you return the card.
- Since the food inside the resort is quite expensive and I hadn't had breakfast, I grabbed a quick bite from a fast-food vendor outside before heading in.
- Inside, there's a rental counter for clothing, boots, and snowboards. The snowboard and boots are included in the ticket price. There are also lockers available for rent (10 RMB for 3 hours, then an additional 5 RMB for every 3 hours).
Single vs. Double Snowboard
Before going, I read reviews suggesting that double boards are easier for beginners because they have poles for balance. Single boards look cooler, though! I chickened out and went with a double board. I quickly learned that if you fall on a double board on a slope, you can't get up! You have to take off your boots and walk down. Be prepared to fall – a lot. Either you'll fall on your own, or someone will bump into you. In the morning, there's a free 30-minute lesson where an instructor teaches you how to put on your boots and board, how to fall without face-planting, and how to control your speed (I couldn't master that last one). You can also hire a private instructor, but it's pretty pricey, so better to hire as a group.
The Snowboarding Experience
Snowboarding is a "go big or go home" kind of sport because you're basically just launching yourself down a hill. If you're brave, you go until you stop. Me? I usually fell midway. The feeling of speeding down the slope is exhilarating, but falling is humiliating 🥲. Snowboarding is also quite tiring because the board and boots weigh about 5kg. You don't have to worry about being cold; a thermal shirt and a light jacket are sufficient. I recommend renting a back protector to safeguard your spine!
Overall, it was a worthwhile winter experience and I wanted to share with anyone thinking about going. I was snowboarding alone and couldn't use my phone easily, so I don't have many pictures. I've added some images from the internet for reference.
