Ski on Xiling Mountain, China

Winter season is coming, are you guys excited to plan a ski vacation? I lived in the south of China for twenty years, and unlike those northern cities, it seldom snows there. Even though I have been skiing in China before and it was my first time skiing.

 

 

Xiling Snow Mountain is located in the heart of Sichuan Province which is close to Chengdu, my hometown. I went along with a group of friends. It was about a 2-hour drive to get to Xiling Mountain, which is only about 100 kilometers southwest of the provincial capital of Chengdu. The resort proximity to a major transportation hub makes it easily accessible to skiing enthusiasts [1].

The best time to go skiing there is from mid-December to March of the next year. The ski resort’s snow conditions during the winter season remain stable because of it’s high altitude, which attains a height above 5,000 meters for the highest peak. But for the ski resort’s pistes, they are just about 2500 meters.  We went there in January for my winter vacation. Although the temperature hovered below the freezing point (minus 10 degrees Celsius [1]), the bright and sunny weather made me feel considerably warmer.

 

 

As a beginner in the skiing field, I knew nothing. The good thing is Xiling Snow Mountain Ski Resort has many pistes ranging from beginner to advanced levels. Don’t worry if you are a skiing novice like me. “There is something for every member of one’s party, regardless of skill levels” [1]. Also, several snowmobile trails are offered there.

 

 

We easily found the place to rent the ski sets. Most of my friends had at least some skiing experience. From the beginning, I was going to stay behind and see my friends enjoy the slopes. Amanda, my best friend, stopped and offered to pair up, giving me some tips on how to get started (for all of about a few meters, when I fell to the ground, again and again). Amanda was trying so hard not to laugh, but she was still patient and helped me many times. Finally, I caught my balance, and I was good to go. Like every new skier, I only covered a really short distance, but it felt amazing, and I was hooked.

After that, we were tired and hungry. We were surprised to find that there were both Chinese and Western bars and restaurants at the ski resort.  They were a little bit more expensive than other places, but there was nothing more valuable to me than having a big meal at that time.

 

 

[1]https://www.chinahighlights.com/chengdu/attraction/xiling-ski-resort.htm