Ski Adventure China

Join us for a unique, Ski Adventure trip to China. Come to the enchanting Xinjiang region in Western China. Don’t expect Apfelstrudel, Niki Lauda, Folie Douce, or conga lines. Instead, get ready for eating with chopsticks, karaoke, noodles, Google Translate, and sleeping in a converted wooden shed. This promises to be another incredible journey.

Ürümqi

Our journey begins in Ürümqi, the vibrant capital of Xinjiang. Upon arrival, we immediately experience the city’s dynamic mix of cultures and traditions. We’ll stay here for two nights, exploring local markets, tasting regional dishes, and recovering from the long journey. Just outside the bustling city of Ürümqi lies the unique Silk Road ski resort, one of the first ski areas in this part of China. The new gondola takes you up to an elevation of 2,440 meters. Most descents from the gondola are short and steep, while the runs from the chairlifts at the resort are longer and flatter. The resort features local barbecue restaurants offering Kazakh, Uyghur, and Mongolian cuisine, providing a delightful introduction to skiing in China. In the evening, we can join the local tradition of karaoke, a favorite pastime, and the perfect way to socialize with locals.

Birthplace of skiing / Altay City

We will start the day with a walk in People’s Park. Locals use the park for Tai Chi and table tennis. To start their day full of energy. As the sun rises more, we climb Honshan Mountain, located in the city center. We visit the Chinese temple at the top and enjoy the panoramic view over the bustling city of Ürümqi (population 4 million). After a well-deserved cup of coffee, we head out on our next journey — we're off to Altay City.

It’s a long drive, straight through the Gurbantünggüt Desert. At first, it doesn’t feel like we’re heading toward a ski resort. But after 5 to 6 hours of driving, the regional capital Altay finally comes into view. Altay City is heavily influenced by Kazakh culture. For a long time, Kazakh nomads were the only inhabitants of this remote region. Thanks to the construction of new roads, the city has become much more accessible. It has grown quickly — now home to around 200,000 people — and even features a modern ski resort: General’s Mountain. This resort is unique because it lets you combine city life and skiing. You can even see the ski slopes from the main shopping street. We check in at our hotel and get ready for a night skiing session. Nearly half the resort is illuminated — and it’s an incredible feeling to ski while the glowing city stretches out beneath your feet.

General Mountain ski resort / optional Uzirik Snow Park

The following day, we’ll have the entire General Mountain ski resort at our disposal. The slopes are perfectly groomed, offering wide-open views over the city and the vast степpe landscape beyond. Each run starts with a gondola ride up to the summit at 1,300 meters, from where you can choose between more than 20 different pistes. While the runs aren’t particularly long, they’re varied and challenging enough to keep you entertained for a full day of skiing and experiencing Chinese ski culture. We’ll also have lunch at a local restaurant in the food court and take time for a drink at the top as the sun sets.

For more experienced freeriders, there’s the option to add a day at the Snow Park. Early in the morning, you’ll be picked up by our friends from Uzirik Snow Park, who operate several snowmobiles to take you up the mountain. You’ll enjoy 5–7 runs in deep powder, guided by an off-piste expert who knows the terrain inside out and will help you find the best lines.

The Snow Park is not open every day, and if conditions aren’t suitable—for example, if there’s no fresh snow—they may cancel groups. So while this option isn’t guaranteed, if the conditions align, it could easily be one of the most unforgettable experiences of your trip.

When booking, you can indicate whether you’d like to add off-piste skiing or snowboarding at Uzirik Snow Park. The additional cost is €280 per person.

Hemu

From Altay City, our adventure continues to Hemu. In the morning, we’ll make a short visit to the city’s main museum, where you’ll get a glimpse into the history of skiing. Recently, ancient rock carvings of skiers were discovered in the region, dating back around 13,000 years—making them the oldest known evidence of humans on skis. The museum offers a fascinating introduction to this early form of skiing.

Later in the week, we’ll visit a traditional ski maker and even try skiing on these original wooden skis, which are lined with horsehair.

The route to Hemu takes us through a barren desert into an extremely fertile forested region in the north, close to the Kazakh border. We ascend quite a bit and pass by breathtaking landscapes. After a few stops, we arrive in Hemu later in the day. This wooden village has undergone a metamorphosis. There are large wooden barns clustered closely together. In the past, local nomads shared these barns with their livestock during the winter months. In the summer, they would move out with their yurts in search of fertile grasslands.

Today, all the barns have been renovated and converted into restaurants, cafes, shops, and accommodations. The livestock still has a place, though it is less prominent. This area is one of the snowiest places in China. Between December and April, there is always more than a meter of snow in the village itself. The nearby Jikepulin ski resort receives even more snow, making it the perfect spot for our final days of skiing. When we arrive, we’ll take a short hike to the other side of the Hemu River. From the viewpoint, you’ll have a stunning view over the entire valley.

Jikepulin ski resort

The Jikepulin ski resort is set to become the largest in China. Currently, there are 70 kilometers of groomed slopes, but construction is still ongoing. The ultra-modern gondolas take you up to an altitude of 2,779 meters, from where you have a wide range of descents to choose from, both on and off-piste. The main building, which opened last year, is quite futuristic—this is skiing in the future. Due to the heavy snowfall, the resort’s popularity is growing rapidly, especially among Chinese skiers. You’ll find many experienced skiers and snowboarders from the major cities in the east. We were surprised by the high level of skill among the riders here. The fact that the Freeride World Tour now has a stop in Jikepulin certainly contributes to the freeride reputation of the area. Getting to this region is quite a challenge, which means the slopes are never too crowded. Fortunately, we have two days to explore every corner of the resort.

By the second ski day, you’ll already be somewhat familiar with the area. If you’d like to explore some freeride runs, you can join our local guide to access the designated backcountry zones. Several sections are specifically for freeriders. After the third day of skiing, we enjoy the local hospitality one last time. We drink rice wine at our favorite pub and spend another night in the cozy wooden barn (in modern, comfortable double rooms).

Traditional skiing

Early in the morning we will drive to Altay City. By now, the city feels familiar. So we visit one of the last remaining traditional ski makers in the country. Azamat gives us a unique glimpse into the production process. The wooden skis are carefully crafted using simple tools. For over 13,000 years, local people have used these skis for hunting and getting around in deep snow. You’ll even have the chance to make a miniature ski yourself as a souvenir. Afterwards, we head out to test the real skis in a truly unique location.

The wooden skis are tied to your ankles with leather straps, leaving the heel free. This allows you to walk uphill with the skis on. The horsehair skins prevent you from sliding back down. Once you reach the top, the skins can’t be removed, so you ski down with them still attached. The descent is always one of the highlights of the trip, though staying upright isn’t easy. After reaching the bottom, we return to the town.

Ürümqi

From Altay City, we will return to Ürümqi, the place where our journey began. Once again, we cross the Gurbantünggüt Desert. There's a good chance we'll spot some camels along the way. The seemingly endless straight road through the desert suddenly gives way to the sight of Ürümqi. The bustling metropolis now feels like a chaotic maze. The neon lights are almost blinding, and the busy streets are a stark contrast to what we've grown accustomed to. We immerse ourselves in the vibrant city one last time. Unfortunately, the next day, it's time to say goodbye. China is a completely different world, but now we know it a little bit better. Xiexie, Thank you.

Ski China for you?

• Adventurers looking for something different than the Alps
• Easily tackle a ‘red slope’
• Lovers of other cultures and rituals

Included

• 3× overnight stay in hotel in Ürümqi

• 3× overnight stay in hotel in Altay City

• 4× overnight stay in guesthouse in Hemu

• Breakfast and dinner (+ non-alcoholic drinks during meals)

• 1-day ski pass for Silk Road resort

• Walking tour in Ürümqi

• 1 evening ski pass for Altay City

• 1 day ski pass General Mountain (or optional Snow Park day)

• Workshop on making traditional skis + ski touring

• 3-day ski pass for Jikepulin ski area

• English-speaking tour guide

• Local transfers

Not included

• Return flight to Ürümqi (€600–€800)

• Uzirik Snow Park (€280 p.p)

• Lunch

• Alcoholic drinks

• Tips & souvenirs

• Ski or snowboard rental

• Travel insurance

Don’t book any flights yet!

As soon as we have reached the minimum amount of reservations (5), we will send you an e-mail. If we don’t have enough participants, we will send you an e-mail 40 days before departure. 

ARRIVAL
SUNDAY
22:50  Urümqi International Airport

RETURN
TUESDAY
14:45  Urümqi International Airport

*we didn’t have to cancel any trips so far due to a lack of reservations

Travel as a group?

If you want to travel as a group of at least five people, you can request a tailor-made trip. Other departure dates are possible in consultation. Please contact us via mail@rycetravel.com or WhatsApp at +31 6 48 72 90 47. 

Ski Adventure China