I had long wanted to go skiing, but it never happened due to the lack of company. Last weekend, I finally got my wish and managed to rope in a few friends to hop on a train toZhalantun. Perhaps it was excitement, but even after four hours on the train, I didn’t feel tired at all. At 12:10 a.m., we checked into Tianjiao Hotel, the closest one to the railway station. The conditions were good — a standard room for two people that was clean. As soon as daylight broke, we quickly had a bite of breakfast, then took a taxi to Golden Dragon Mountain Ski Resort. The journey from downtown to the resort was about 8 kilometers. (Later I found out there’s actually a free shuttle bus – _ _ ! There are five stops in the city. Next time I’ll take the free bus.)
View original image Taken specially from the back hill... Isn't it beautiful?
View original image Ski Equipment ― Snowboard
View original image Ski Equipment ― Alpine Skis
Ski Equipment ― Alpine Skis (Beginners should learn on alpine skis first; they’re easier to get the hang of)
This ski resort opened in 2009, and all the facilities are quite good. The ski equipment hall is spacious and bright, and there’s even free hot water available. The front desk staff warmly welcomed us and helped us handle everything. The skiing prices are also reasonable: weekdays 120 RMB for 2 hours, weekends 150 RMB, holidays 160 RMB. Moreover, our accommodation for that night was well arranged. We had dinner with the resort accommodation staff — hey, free food always tastes better. But let’s talk about skiing. Currently, the resort has five ski runs open: the middle run, east run, and west run are not yet open. There’s an intermediate run and a beginner run. The middle run is the advanced run, which is a bit challenging — if you can ski down the middle run, you can probably handle most ski runs in China. The east run is a slightly more difficult intermediate run, suitable for intermediate-level skiers or for advanced skiers to practice basics. The snow quality feels great. The intermediate run is suitable for beginners to practice, and the magic carpet run is ideal for novice skiers.
View original image Beginner ski run lift equipment ― Magic Carpet
View original image There were quite a few skiers on the beginner run
I skied a few rounds on the intermediate run and felt pretty good, so I took the cable car up to the advanced run. As the saying goes, “It’s easier to go up than come down.” Truly, “You don’t know how small your position is until you reach Beijing, and you don’t know how scared you are until you reach the mountaintop.” The first glance down from the top felt just like standing on the edge of a cliff. There was no way I could make it down the middle run, so I opted for the east run.
View original image Aerial view of the ski runs and resort hall from the mountaintop
While I hesitated, a skier at the top kindly gave me some technical pointers. Finally, summoning up courage, I charged down. Though my footwork wasn’t very skilled, I managed to get back to the ground amid bumps and scrapes. Some say skiing is like smoking white opium — absolutely true, it’s addictive and thrilling. Back at the bottom, I couldn’t resist the temptation and took the cable car up the mountain again. This time, my descent showed some improvement, and I gained a bit more confidence. For lunch, I grabbed a burger and a cup of milk tea at the Shelter Happy Restaurant at the resort. I didn’t feel full — looks like skiing boosts your appetite. Whoa... I got another steamed bun. So satisfying... I skied until 3:30 p.m. when it started getting dark, and the cable car stopped running. But I didn’t feel tired at all. I slept well that night and planned to continue the next morning — I also wanted to try the thrill of a snowmobile ride. Watching others ride looked so exhilarating. Time flew, and the two-day trip passed in a flash. My friend and I boarded the train home. The rumbling of the carriage stirred my thoughts, sometimes making me ponder skiing techniques, other times reflecting on the essence of the outdoors — communication, encouragement, confidence, and self-transcendence...
View original image Strike a pose for myself !
View original image
This was a formation performance by the national snowboarding and alpine skiing teams ! What a pity I didn’t get to see it live !