Chongli, located at 40 degrees north latitude, is a small city in North China just over 200 kilometers from Beijing. It gained worldwide attention by jointly bidding with Beijing to host the Winter Olympics. Transforming from a natural ski resort town into a brand-new Olympic city, Chongli is undergoing its own remarkable evolution.
Driving northwest from Beijing, passing through the Badaling Great Wall, Jimingyi Post, Zhangjiakou… The 2.5-hour journey takes you through towering mountains, with distant glimpses of the Great Wall. As you leave behind the hustle and bustle of the city and arrive in Chongli, you’re embraced by the refreshing embrace of nature. Look up to see a clear blue sky, while in the distance, green, yellow, and red mountain ridges intertwine, and nearby residences are adorned with colorful Olympic and winter sports symbols. This mountain town exudes a vibrant atmosphere of fashion and sport.
Due to its location in the deep mountainous area of the transition zone between the Inner Mongolia Plateau and the region below the dam, Chongli has already experienced three snowfalls since October. The unique mountain topography creates a microclimate that results in significantly more snowfall than surrounding areas. With abundant snowfall, high-quality snow, long snow seasons, and slopes mostly ranging between 5° and 35°, the area’s exceptional climate and geographical advantages provide ideal conditions for snow and ice recreational activities. Since the Sai Bei Ski Resort pioneered Chongli’s skiing industry in 1996, over 300 square kilometers of the region have gathered well-known ski resorts such as Genting Secret Garden, Wanlong, Great Wall Ridge, and Dolomiti, offering accommodations at various levels—from high-end to mid-range and budget-friendly.
As the competition venue for snowboarding and freestyle skiing events at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Genting Secret Garden has become widely renowned. This resort was developed through investment by Malaysia’s Genting Group and Excellence Group, nestled within the Taihang and Yanshan Mountain ranges at the Da Maqun Mountains in Chongli County. With an average annual temperature of only -7°C (19°F), snow cover lasting up to 150 days, and air negative ion content 4,000 times that of Beijing, it is an outstanding skiing destination in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.
To meet the demands of the Winter Olympics competitions and skiers during the season, the Genting Secret Garden ski resort is undergoing upgrades. This year, the ski area has expanded by approximately 100,000 square meters, bringing the total ski area to 800,000 square meters. Five new trails have been added, bringing the total to 35 runs—13 advanced, 14 intermediate, and 8 beginner trails. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, you’ll find a suitable slope here and enjoy the thrill of skiing.
In addition, Genting Secret Garden integrates ski equipment rental, Chinese and Western dining, ski schools, and leisure entertainment. The Genting Grand Hotel features amenities such as bars, mini-golf, shooting ranges, arcade rooms, and swimming pools, ensuring a rich and relaxing holiday experience without even leaving the resort. Notably, if you want your children to join in on the magic of this snowy wonderland, Genting Secret Garden won’t disappoint. The resort has set up dedicated children’s snow play areas and indoor kids’ entertainment zones. Winter camps offer programs for children of all ages that include fun, learning, and physical activity—all without leaving the country—providing international-level instruction so kids can grow and thrive while having fun.
By early November, temperatures in Chongli have dropped to around zero degrees Celsius, with optimal humidity levels for snowmaking, and major ski resorts have started opening one after another. This year, the original four major resorts—Genting Secret Garden, Wanlong, Great Wall Ridge, and Dolomiti—have expanded to five. Thaiwoo Ski Resort has become another great destination for skiing enthusiasts.
Zhou Wenqian, deputy general manager of Chongli Thaiwoo Tourism Resort Co., Ltd., introduced that the Thaiwoo Four Seasons Town covers a total area of 40 square kilometers, with an estimated total investment of 20 billion yuan, making it the largest ski resort investment in the Chongli area to date. Thaiwoo was designed by a professional international team, featuring full "ski-in/ski-out" capability across the entire resort. It also boasts the largest vertical drop in the region, accommodating a wide variety of winter sports including alpine skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, and extreme skiing. After three years of development, the resort now has 35 ski runs and four chairlifts, and is fully ready to receive visitors. During the interview, reporters happened to meet Austrian ski instructor Caesar,