Live Your Best Lives
Every winter, the weather turns cold and our movements slow down. It seems like only a blanket and hot pot can satisfy us. But isn't this a bit too monotonous? Well, there are actually many things to do in winter. For example, you can gather a few friends to spend the night at a hot spring hotel, soaking in the hot springs and chatting. How wonderful! Or you can call up friends, put on ski clothes, grab poles, and skis, and leave a dashing mark on the slopes.
Once upon a time, when winter arrived, the most anticipated thing was a good snowfall, so we could do whatever we wanted. Even though adults repeatedly warned us not to get our shoes wet or our clothes torn, we didn't care. We went out with our friends, built snowmen, and slid down the slopes on a wooden board. This was probably the prototype of modern skiing, but without brakes.
Now that the weather is getting warmer, there are not many opportunities to play in the snow in my hometown of Hubei in winter. I can only go to the ski resort to ski happily. Maybe I have loved to be active and playful since I was a child, so every winter I will go to the ski resort to ski several times. Here I will introduce to you which ski resorts people in Hubei can play.
Skiing is a full-body sport that comprehensively exercises and strengthens the nervous system. While giving you the thrill of speed, it also develops your balance, coordination, and flexibility. Skiing requires the coordination of every joint in the body to achieve optimal balance. Therefore, skiing effectively exercises nearly every joint, activating stiffness and enhancing flexibility.
The fundamental skiing posture is a balanced one. Learning to ski starts with a correct start. Begin on a flat surface of snow. To master the start position, stand balanced with your skis shoulder-width apart, your weight balanced between the arches of your feet. Keep the weight evenly distributed across the skis, your ankles slightly bent, your knees and hips slightly bent as well. Keep your back straight and relaxed, your arms bent, and your hands reaching down to the toes of your ski boots, level with your waist.
After getting into position, relax and hold it for a moment, then stand up straight and repeat several times. Take a few steps forward or sideways, lean forward, and use your calves to support the ski boots. Then lean back, feeling your body weight on the back of the ski board. Then stand up straight and repeat several times. At this point, you can also do some exercises such as wrapping your knees around, squatting, and shifting your center of gravity to your front toes to get used to wearing ski boots and skis.
Tips:
In fact, there are a lot of skiing techniques on the Internet. What I want to emphasize here is that if you want to ski, you must learn how to fall. If you fall in the wrong way, you are likely to get injured. When you feel you are about to fall, you should lower your center of gravity in time, bend your legs, retract your poles and clamp them in your armpits, and then fall to the side. After falling, you must immediately take off your snowboard, stand up, put away your snowboard, exit the ski slope, and then start again.
Starting from Wuhan, there are still many ski resorts in the surrounding area, including Xianning Jiugongshan Ski Resort, Yingshan Taohuachong Ski Resort, Dabie Mountain Nanwudang Ski Resort, Shiyan Wudang Mountain Ski Resort, Yuan'an Bailihuang Ski Resort, Shennongjia International Ski Resort, Tianyan Ski Resort, Zhonghe Ski Resort, Longjiangping Ski Resort, Henan Laojieling Ski Resort, Yaoshan Ski Resort, and Muzaling Ski Resort. We will not introduce them one by one here, but only select a few representative ski resorts for introduction.
Address: Huashupan Laojieling Ski Resort, Taiping Town, Xixia County, Nanyang City
Nature of ski resort: Semi-natural ski resort, requires artificial snowmaking
Ski resort entertainment: skiing, snow tubing, making snowmen
Open ski slopes: Beginner slopes, intermediate and advanced slopes are not open yet
Henan Laojieling Ski Resort, a prime example of an artificial snowfield, is located at an altitude of 1,400 to 1,800 meters. It is a nationally renowned large-scale alpine wetland ski resort, boasting pristine vegetation, pristine scenery, and exceptional natural conditions. From late November to the end of March each year, the snow accumulates to a depth of over 60 centimeters, creating a spectacular spectacle of a sea of snow in the Central Plains.
The ski resort covers an area of 3.5 square kilometers and features four standard tourist ski slopes, divided into beginner, intermediate, advanced, and snow saucer courses. It also boasts the province's largest multi-functional service hall, covering over 2,000 square meters, offering a full range of entertainment, rest, and dining facilities. It boasts 1,500 sets of world-renowned ski equipment, eight imported mobile snowmaking machines, and a snowmaking area of 100,000 square meters, accommodating 2,000 skiers and 4,000 people enjoying snow recreation activities simultaneously. Snow saucers and snowmobiles, imported from Europe, are among the more than 10 snow recreational activities, making it a leading large-scale snow amusement park in the province.
Tips:
Laojieling Ski Resort has catering and accommodation. Foreign guests can stay directly at the ski resort and enjoy more skiing time.
1. Accommodation: There are three types of accommodation: a hotel, which is affordable at around 150 yuan per room; a small number of yurts, located right next to the ski slopes, where you can return to your room to rest when you are tired, but the price is more expensive, around 240 yuan per room; and a wooden villa, which uses floor heating and is sold as a whole, can accommodate 6-8 people, but the price is higher and is adjusted according to market conditions.
2. Catering: What are the general requirements for dining in Henan? You can eat enough, but you can’t eat well.
3. Transportation: You can choose to drive by yourself, be sure to use anti-skid chains, or join a tour group
Address: Tianyan National Forest Park, Shennongjia Forest District, Hubei Province (towards Donggou, Hongping Town), adjacent to National Highway 209, 38 kilometers from Muyu Town and 6 kilometers from Hongping Town
Nature of ski resort: natural ski resort, rarely requires artificial snowmaking
Ski resort entertainment: skiing, snow tubing, snow boating, snowman making, etc.
Open ski slopes: Beginner, intermediate and advanced slopes are not open yet
Tianyan Ski Resort, one of the few natural ski resorts in Hubei Province, is located within Tianyan National Forest Park in the Shennongjia Forest District of Hubei Province (towards Donggou, Hongping Town). Adjacent to National Highway 209, it is 38 kilometers from Muyu Town and 6 kilometers from Hongping Town, making it a must-see destination for tourists on the Shennongjia and Wudang Mountains routes. It is one of the largest and most comprehensive alpine ski resorts in Central China, primarily utilizing natural snow with a supplementary use of artificial snow. Covering approximately 10,000 square meters, it can accommodate 1,200 people simultaneously. It features two beginner slopes and one intermediate slope. All facilities and equipment are newly purchased, high-end, and include state-of-the-art "magic carpet" elevators. With an average monthly temperature of -4°C in winter and approximately 110 days of snow cover annually, the resort boasts excellent snow quality, abundant snowfall, and a favorable climate, making it an ideal place for enjoying the snow, skiing, and enjoying the thrill of the snowy forests.
Tips:
1. Tianyan Ski Resort is located in the Tianyan Scenic Area of Shennongjia. It is open from early December to the end of February each year, and is closed for only three days during the Spring Festival.
2. There is a shuttle bus to the ski resort in Muyu, which departs at 7:00 am and costs about 35 yuan. The latest return time is 5:00 pm. If you do not take the shuttle bus, you can choose to share a car in Muyu Town.
3. Tianyan Ski Resort has only a few accommodations, which need to be booked in advance. If you are not at the ski resort, you can choose to return to Muyu Town to check in.
4. Weekday full-time: 80 yuan per hour, full-day: 180 yuan capped; weekend: 100 yuan per hour, capped at 300 yuan
Address: Niuchangping, Hongping Town, Shennongjia Forest District
Nature of ski resort: natural ski resort, rarely requires artificial snowmaking
Ski resort entertainment: skiing, snowmobiles, snow tubing, snow tanks, snow assault boats, snow saucers, bumper cars on ice, snowman making, etc.
Open ski slopes: beginner slope, intermediate slope, advanced slope (staff permission is required to go to the advanced slope)
Shennongjia International Ski Resort is the first and largest ski resort in Central China, utilizing a combination of artificial and natural snow. Spanning 19.17 square kilometers, the resort boasts 15 ski slopes, including three for advanced, five for intermediate, and five for beginners. It also features an entertainment area, a half-pipe trough, one chairlift, one magic carpet, and three cable cars. The resort has a maximum capacity of 5,000 people. In addition to standard skiing and snowboarding, Shennongjia International Ski Resort also offers snowmobiling, rafting, flying saucers, ice bumper cars, and snow buggies. A 6,000-square-meter, two-story ski service hall provides opportunities for guests to pick up equipment, relax, enjoy the view, and dine. A newly constructed hotel and all-wooden forest villas provide quality accommodation. The resort is equipped with large and small tow ropeways, imported artificial snowmaking systems, snow grooming equipment, snowmobiles, and ski equipment. The 3,000-square-meter ski reception center features a ski equipment room, a cafe, a snack bar, a snow shop, a medical emergency room, and a ski school. For beginners, renowned professional ski instructors are hired. A wide variety of snow activities are offered, including skiing, tubing, snowmobiles, goat sleds, sledding, and snow bikes.
Tips:
1. Shennongjia International Ski Resort currently has beginner, intermediate and advanced trails open, but you need permission from staff to enter the beginner and advanced trails.
2. The ski resort uses a card system and requires a 300 yuan cash deposit. Clothes rental and dining chairs are all recorded by the ski card and will be settled when the card is returned.
3. All-day unlimited skiing is 180 yuan per person. During the New Year and Spring Festival holidays, 2 hours is 240 yuan, 3 hours is 380 yuan, and all day is 500 yuan.
4. There is currently no shuttle bus from Muyu Town to the ski resort. If you drive, you can choose to go there by yourself or share a car from Muyu Town. Please bring anti-skid chains if you drive.
5. The ski resort has hotels and wooden villas for accommodation. The hotel is about 300 per night on weekdays, about 360 per night on Fridays and Saturdays, and about 560 per night on New Year's Day and Spring Festival. The price of villas fluctuates.
Address: Longjiangping, Muyu Town, Shennongjia Forest District
Nature of ski resort: natural ski resort, rarely requires artificial snowmaking
Ski resort entertainment: skiing, children's snow play area, snow flying saucer, snow play, cute pet park, night party and other diversified entertainment projects
Open ski slopes: Beginner slopes, intermediate slopes are not open yet
Located within the Longjiangping International Tourist Resort, the Longjiangping International Ski Resort is surrounded by breathtaking peaks and lush greenery. With an average elevation of 1,700 meters, Longjiangping enjoys abundant winter snowfall, with snow quality specifications meeting international ski standards. With long-lasting snow reserves, average temperatures below -5°C, and average wind speeds of level 2, it's ideal for outdoor activities. Its unique snow resources and advantageous location make it an ideal natural alpine skiing destination in central China. It also offers a diverse ski resort with nightclubs and gatherings. The entire ski resort town, designed in a Nordic style, integrates outdoor skiing, sightseeing, leisure, and adventure, catering to all types of visitors' needs for snow fun, snow viewing, and snow adventures.
The ski resort boasts comprehensive amenities, including a ski club, a ski resort hall, Chinese and Western restaurants, a cafe, a five-star hotel, a ski school, and professional ski instructors, providing comprehensive travel services. The ski resort offers three beginner and intermediate slopes with slopes ranging from 8 to 15 degrees. It also features a children's play area, a leisure and sightseeing area, a training and practice area, a snow tubing facility, a snow park, a pet park, and a nightclub. The ski resort's visitor center, covering 3,200 square meters, is divided into three floors and features a lounge, VIP room, changing rooms, showers, Chinese and Western restaurants, a cafe, a snow shop, a ski equipment room, a first aid room, and a ski school, providing comprehensive travel services.
Tips:
1. Longjiangping International Ski Resort has heavy snowfall in winter, and the snow quality parameters meet the standards. The ski resort has one beginner ski slope and two intermediate ski slopes, which are very suitable for beginners and ski practitioners.
2. The unique night ski slope makes Longjiangping look romantic after the lights are turned on. You can enjoy skiing at night.
1. Carefully understand the height, width, length, slope, and direction of your ski slope. Alpine skiing is a high-speed sport, and what seems far away can become a fleeting sight. Without prior knowledge of the trail's conditions, skiers may not have enough time to react if something unexpected happens. This is especially important for beginners.
2. Choose a trail that suits your skill level. Don't overestimate your skill level and rush into it. Take it step by step, and ideally, hire a ski instructor.
3. If you're unsure of the terrain ahead or feel any problem with your ski equipment, stop and check; don't take risks.
4. When skiing in a group, maintain distance from each other. Avoid rushing down to catch up with your companions, as this can easily lead to falls or collisions, especially for beginners.
5. When taking a break, stop at the edge of the trail, not at the bottom of a steep slope, and be aware of other skiers descending from above.
6. If you lose control and fall while skating, you should quickly lower your center of gravity and sit back. Do not struggle. You can lift your limbs, bend your body, and let yourself slide down. Avoid falling headfirst and absolutely avoid rolling.
7. Skiers with poor eyesight should not wear contact lenses while skiing. If the contact lenses fall out after a fall, it is almost impossible to find them. Try to wear glasses with frames made of resin lenses, which are not easy to break after being hit.
As a high-risk sport, skiing carries certain risks, requiring participants to have a solid foundation in the sport. Be sure to follow the instructions and instructions of the ski resort staff during your skiing journey, and don't blindly pursue intermediate or advanced slopes. If you feel less skilled, you can ask a coach for on-site instruction. Finally, I wish everyone a happy skiing experience!
The pictures in this article are from China-TravelNote tour leaders Huanxi Momo, Jiuge, Xiami, Xixi, and Ronger. Reproduction without permission is prohibited.
