From January 6 to January 27, 2018, the large-scale event “Join Subaru, Fuel the Winter Olympics Spirit, Ski Across China,” organized by Nuotai Sports, co-hosted by Beijing Fensnow Technology Co., Ltd. (Ski+), and sponsored by Subaru as the main partner along with various other brands, led over 15 skiers from Northwest China’s Xinjiang Altay to Northeast China’s Jilin Changbai Mountain and then on to North China’s Zhangjiakou Chongli. They traveled tens of thousands of miles to ski across 11 famous ski resorts in China. Their goal: to spread the skiing spark throughout the nation and cheer passionately for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
Fifteen skiers from 11 provinces and cities including Guangdong, Jiangxi, Henan, Shandong, Beijing, Jilin, and Heilongjiang gathered in Urumqi, Xinjiang on the first day for the event’s kick-off ceremony. They were filled with determination and excitement for the trip. Ski across China, ignite the nation, and promote the goal of “getting 300 million people involved in winter sports”!
The “Altay Declaration” officially confirmed that Xinjiang’s Altay is the earliest “birthplace of human skiing.” Heading to Altay, the first stop was the Junshan Ski Resort. Over 15 skiers arrived!
Over 15 skiers, with police lights flashing on their vehicles, sped through G216, tackling some of the most complex icy and snowy road sections. Add a dash of enthusiasm!
Over 15 skiers—the team and the photography crew interacted constantly along the way, producing creative shots and executing them flawlessly. Epic photos galore. Add a dose of awesomeness!
Over 15 skiers—skier “Little Bed Sheet” picked up creative ideas in Urumqi, bought a red dress, and flew to Altay in just four hours. Add a touch of surprise!
Over 15 skiers—skier “Xuanzhu” once again stunned everyone in a red dress at the first stop, Junshan Ski Resort. The video went viral in the skiing community. The spark has begun!
The second stop was the Altay Mountain Wild Snow Park. Turning into Xiaodonggou, we passed through vast forests until we reached slopes where hail had frozen into translucent jade-like ice. Deep grooves carved by melting water glistened on the icy slopes. Though a rare sight, it sent chills down our spines. Team members surveying the path slipped, as did those trying to fill the icy gaps. We faced the toughest road conditions yet!
Subaru, it’s all up to you. With its low-center-of-gravity boxer engine, symmetrical all-wheel drive, and manual snow mode, we gently pressed the gas to start up the icy slope—no slip. Then we floored it over icy patches, crossing ditches smoothly—no slip. Even during a sharp turn on a long downhill, still no slip. The whole team cheered while the drone filming overhead seemed to buzz in approval. Subaru, you rock—you’re our over 15!
Over 15 skiers—racing down sunlit ridges, flying through half a meter of snow, sending up sprays of powder. Add a bit of wild freedom!
Over 15 skiers—drifting and turning sharply in the wilderness of natural powder snow, drawing the excited chase of six snowmobiles. Add a touch of madness!
Over 15 skiers—on the journey back under the golden sunset, a heartfelt Kazakh love song played over the walkie-talkies. Add a dash of romance!
Back in Urumqi, the third stop was the Silk Road Ski Resort. The “Evan Trail” is named after Italian former world champion Evan Stricker, who promoted skiing in China. It’s said to be the steepest slope in the country—a challenge to the limit was a must. What made it even more special? On our first attempt, we were lucky enough to ski alongside the legendary “Silk Road Grandpa” (who’s 78 years old)!
Over 15 skiers—honoring the memory of Evan Stricker. Add a touch of gratitude!
Over 15 skiers—may we all ski with Silk Road Grandpa into our 80s, 90s, and even 100s. Add a blessing!
Over 15 skiers—following Wang Jing, a veteran of the August 1st Ski Team, as we cruised down Happiness Boulevard. Add a sense of ease!
Over 15 skiers—a specially arranged barbecue halfway up the mountain, where we enjoyed Xinjiang-style lamb liver skewers and other grilled delights. Add a surprise!
Culture. In beautiful Xinjiang, the birthplace of human skiing—Altay. We test-skied ancient fur skis on Junshan, following in our ancestors’ footsteps. At Xiaodonggou, we joined a grand Kazakh feast, experiencing the warm hospitality of the locals. We sang and drank with Uncle Azada and danced with Kazakh girls... History, food culture, and skiing culture all blend seamlessly here!
Crossing mountains and valleys, a journey of tens of thousands of miles no longer feels far.
On January 13, we bid farewell to Xinjiang and flew from Urumqi to Beijing. At Beijing Railway Station, an inquisitive local lady saw our gear bags and asked, “Are you soldiers moving back home?”
Over 15 skiers—“When we’re not skiing, we’re on our way to ski.” Add a touch of hard work!
The train arrived in Harbin, and by chance, fate brought a reunion. Skier Huang Shulang ran into a classmate from 40 years ago in this northern ice city. The team agreed to change the plan, turning our lunch into a visit to the “Folk Clay Pot Soup Restaurant” opened by his old friend on Songshan Road. Many teammates tasted Jiangxi’s famous liquor and rich local dishes for the first time. Together, we witnessed and shared the joy of “meeting an old friend in a distant land.”
Over 15 skiers—the “Folk Clay Pot Soup Restaurant” on Harbin’s Songshan Road. Add a taste of something special!
Over 15 skiers—the joy and excitement of “meeting an old friend in a distant land.” Add a sense of sharing!
At the Harbin Subaru 4S store, we re-applied decals and regrouped for departure. The highway to Yabuli was closed due to snowfall, and parts of the route were forecast to have blizzards. After careful consideration, Team Leader Song decided to take an alternative route, pushing through the snowstorm.
“Subaru One calling, activate snow mode, let’s go.” Through the long night, the blizzard raged outside the windows—but inside the car, laughter and songs filled the air. After nearly 1,500 kilometers of driving on icy roads in Xinjiang, the team had grown familiar with and confident in Subaru’s outstanding winter performance. The walkie-talkie commands became increasingly playful, turning into skiing lingo. “Subaru Two, try another carve, get higher on the powder, we’re filming you.” The bumpy rural roads felt like our own wild snow moguls. “Subaru Three, nice absorption, do it again!” “Subaru Four, big bump ahead—catch some air!” “Subaru Five, off skiing the backcountry again, get back in formation.” Subaru had truly become one of us.
Through wind and snow, Yabuli is waiting for you...
The fourth stop: Yabuli Ski Resort, the birthplace of modern skiing in China. Relive history—the Northeast China leg begins at Yabuli.
Early in the morning on January 15th, Captain Song, known as the "Snow God" who hadn’t lost in Yabuli for ten years, proved right again. The blizzard had just subsided, leaving sunny skies and soft powder snow all around. First run at Daguo Kui, then at Sanguo Kui… Yabuli used to be synonymous with skiing. But under its once-glorious reputation and amid shifting public opinion, it has become a thing of the past.
The fifth stop: Tianchi Snow Ski Resort on Changbai Mountain. The off-piste snow on the western slope of Changbai is a dream destination for many skiers—a must-hit spot. We rode minibuses, snowmobiles, and snowcats before finally having to hike up a hundred meters through knee-deep powder just to reach the summit.
Panting and drenched in sweat... getting in one run of off-piste skiing is no easy feat.
Our teammates descended the slopes like a pack of wolves, howling down the hill and sending up clouds of snow. They charged into the woods, startling flocks of birds... Thank nature for this exhilaration.
However, despite having abundant natural resources, both Tianchi Snow and Yabuli lack service awareness. The winds of reform and opening-up have yet to reach these places.
15+, where mountains test your limits—ski freely across the peaks. Add a touch of boldness.
15+, the black waters and white mountains really need to wake up. Add a note of urgency.
The sixth stop: Beidahu Ski Resort—North American mountains, Japanese snow, European sunshine, and the warmth of Northeasterners.
Under intense encouragement and leadership, a pack of bloodshot-eyed wolves went wild. On groomed runs, in the off-piste, and through the trees, they charged left and right with wild whoops; they launched off jumps, crashed through moguls, and skied harder and harder, their formations growing denser. Drone footage and photos looked better and better—the visual impact stronger and stronger… Snow sprayed everywhere, creating a chaotic scene.
15+, wild runs at Beidahu. Add a bit of recklessness.
15+, wild runs at Beidahu—but also add a word of caution about safety.
The seventh stop: Songhua Lake Ski Resort. Today’s debut was something special. Teammates and instructors from the Songhua Lake Ski School climbed up to the “Forest Stage” together to greet the sunrise. One long line and one short line of skiers wound along the slopes, merging and separating, kicking up snow all around… like two dragons playing in the snow. The crazy snow wolves turned into little penguins, basking in the afternoon sun and napping on warm heated beds… Maybe it was the moon that night that was simply too enchanting. At Songhua Lake, the team seemed to unanimously prefer night skiing, enjoying noodle-like snow as a late-night treat.
15+, ascending the Forest Stage to greet the sunrise. Add a sense of ceremony.
15+, two ski lines—one long, one short—like dragons in the snow. Add a playful vibe.
15+, dancing with Chang’e under the moon. Add a touch of night skiing.
White mountains, black waters, red beaches; deep in the Yan Mountains lies pure white snow.
Three thousand miles chasing the moon through snow, heading westward to reveal the land.
On January 21–22, the Subaru team set off from Kouqian Town in Jilin, passed through Panjin in Liaoning, and drove nearly 1,500 kilometers on snowy roads to reach Chongli in Zhangjiakou, the “Great and Beautiful Land.”
It felt like reliving the decades-long historical journey of the Eight Banners... The team also faced numerous challenges: highway closures (blockades), icy roads (ambushes), and gas stations shutting down one after another (starvation). But the outstanding performance of the Subaru vehicles turned our arduous journey into a smooth ride.
15+, the administrator, a Subaru owner and fellow skier, kept a close eye on the event and finally gave us the green light. Add a sense of camaraderie.
15+, after switching to follow mode, Uncle Diao crossed his legs and started taking selfies. Add a bit of playfulness.
15+, ultra-low fuel consumption of just over 10L per 100km made us ignore the closed gas stations. Add a sense of relief.
15+, just grip the steering wheel—skier V???? kept gliding smoothly even as gas stations shut down one after another.
The four stops in Chongli were relaxed and fun. Wanlong (Dragon), Genting (Cloud Top), Taiwu (Dance), and Fulong (Prosperous Dragon)—let’s party. This is our turf now.
The eighth stop: Fulong Ski Resort. In just 206 days, they completed the construction of 22 ski runs, 2 chairlifts, a ski equipment hall, and other high-standard facilities. Right after opening, it shot straight to the top ranks nationwide. In terms of scale and speed of ski resort construction worldwide, they dared to lead.
This is China Speed.
On such a high-end ski resort, the team went wild at the sight of powder and noodle snow—as if they’d caught the scent of “snow.” Their true forms emerged, fierce and unrestrained. They charged down slopes, shredded runs, launched off jumps, and quickly formed tight attacking formations.
Fulong Ski Resort has a power that inspires us—to dare to lead.
The ninth stop: Taiwu Ski Resort. Taiwu is located in Prince City, right next to the Chongli high-speed rail station set to open next year, and holds a leading position in the tri-mountain alliance (Wanlong, Genting, Taiwu). It poses a big strategic challenge for Taiwu.
Captain Song and “Deep” were especially in the zone today. They insisted on skiing every run at Taiwu… advanced runs, intermediate runs, even beginner runs and mogul fields weren’t spared. Twenty runs down twenty different runs—perfectly wrapped up.
Thrilled, we drove our Subaru up to Xique Liang. In the fading sunset and chilly wind, amidst lingering snow, lay the abandoned Old Sai Bei—the first ski resort in Chongli, forever cherished in the hearts of skiing enthusiasts. A tribute to the pioneers of skiing in Chongli, Old Sai Bei!
Stop ten: Wanlong Ski Resort. Wanlong’s indoor parking lot is spacious and free, breakfast is hearty, there are plenty of clean and odor-free restrooms, the sinks have hot water and hand cream, the stored ski boots are warm, there’s free hot water everywhere, tissues are thoughtfully provided at the gate entrances, the lunch options are abundant and the regional flavors are surprisingly authentic. There are lounge chairs for resting at the mountaintop, and free hot drinks and cookies are offered at three in the afternoon to recharge energy and warm the heart... so many thoughtful details!
Wanlong is truly the “only” setter of service standards for ski resorts in China!
Stop eleven: Genting Ski Resort. The event came to a perfect close!
No expense spared. Genting’s hardware facilities are the best in the nation. All high-speed chairlifts come with windshields, heated seats, and the gates feature conveyer belts... This year, they even added a new Lift 22. Snow runs named after flowers also saw the addition of several new “blooms.”
At the closing banquet, Song, the team leader nicknamed "Wind and Snow Immortal," who won unanimous admiration from the whole team, proposed a toast to heaven. Thanking the skies for their care along the journey, always stopping the wind and snow to welcome us—truly grateful!
15+, skiing across China, plus a bit is a publicity team.
15+, skiing across China, plus a bit is a seeding machine.
15+, skiing across China, plus a bit is a spark that will ignite all of China!
Thanks to Nuotai Sports and Hua Bei for organizing “Ski Across China”!
Thanks to Subaru and all the sponsors, as well as the 11 ski resorts for their strong support!
Thanks to my teammates for their help and great execution!
Looking forward to continuing to ski across...
Ski Across China Itinerary