Journeys to China's winter wonderlands

Along the Great Wall

The route runs through seven cities in Hebei and Inner Mongolia and offers skiing, hiking, photography and winter fishing.

Jinshanling International Skiing Tourist Resort sits in Chengde city in Hebei, and offers more than 10 ski trails for the public. It covers an area of 25 square kilometers and boasts the biggest altitude drop, around 600 meters, among the ski slopes surrounding Beijing. The Yudaokou Grassland and Forest Scenic Area and the Chengde Mountain Resort, which used to be where emperors of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) spent their summers, are an ideal complement to local snow sport experiences.

Daogunan Mountain Ski Field in Chifeng city of Inner Mongolia offers ski slopes catering to skiers of all levels. Its winter recreation park offers snowmobile and dog sleigh experiences for family travelers. Other highlights in the city include the Asihatu Stone Forest-which is the result of years of wind and sand erosion, creating rock formations resembling ancient castle towers and bamboo shoots-the winter fishing at the Dalinur Lake, and the Yulong Sand Lake, which is a clear and dazzling oasis in an arid landscape.

Pastures new

The pasture route meanders through the vast grassland of Inner Mongolia and offers ski and winter fun destinations in eight cities, including Arxan of Hinggan League, and Hailaar, Genhe and Manzhouli of Hulunbuir. Ski resorts in those cities, including Taiwei ski resort in Arxan and Dongshan ski resort in Hailaar, await those in search of some on-piste action. In addition to skiing, the Canglang Bailu Winter Sport Base in Hailaar offers diverse winter thrills, including professional winter sport competitions, as well as customized cross-country snowmobile experiences. The Ewenki reindeer tribe, living in the Aoluguya Ewenki ethnic township of Genhe, also offers travelers a glimpse into its exotic folk culture. Historically known as "the last hunting tribe", they have preserved their culture of raising reindeer. The Manzhouli China-Russia Border Tourist Area consists of the matryoshka and national gate resorts. The Matryoshka Resort not only features elements of its namesake traditional Russian nesting doll craft, but also provides a wider taste of Russian culture. Other attractions within the scenic area are the No 41 Border Monument and the Locomotive Square.