Direct flights launched — Family ski holidays in Yabuli are all the rage

By Li Xinyi, reporting

 

December is the month of Christmas and snowfall. One of the most popular festivals in China’s northernmost province, Heilongjiang, the Ski Festival, kicked off last week (on the 12th). Among them, Yabuli boasts some of the best snow quality for skiing in China and serves as a training base for Asian Games and Olympic skiers. Recognizing these advantages, international resort brand Club Med set up here last year, right next to three of the mainland’s top ski resorts. This year, it has partnered with France’s national ski school ESF to introduce age- and level-based ski lessons. According to Club Med, compared to the same period last year (November), the number of Taiwanese visitors to the resort has quadrupled.

Harbin is the capital of Heilongjiang Province, and Yabuli is a small town within Harbin, located about 198 kilometers from downtown Harbin, with a three-and-a-half-hour drive. Harbin was once occupied by Russia, and Russian architectural styles abound. The nearby town of Yabuli derives its name from the Russian word meaning “beautiful apple orchard.” Every winter, Harbin’s Ice and Snow Festival becomes the hottest local event; but those who love skiing know that one of the mainland’s top three ski resorts is located in Yabuli.

 

This year has been relatively mild in Yabuli, but even so, temperatures last week dropped to between minus 20 and 30 degrees Celsius. From Harbin Airport to Yabuli, the journey takes you through a snow-blanketed silver world — farmlands, lakes, and farmhouse roofs are all covered with a thick layer of pristine white, and sparse chimneys emit gentle wisps of smoke. Yabuli is located on Daguo’kui Mountain, which has an exceptionally high forest coverage rate. The further you drive toward the outskirts, the denser the woods become, resembling snow-draped trees adorning the mountains, farmlands, and winding paths. The snow on the road flies outward in all directions with passing vehicles, creating non-parallel white musical staves that stretch out and scatter continuously. The scenery along the way fits everyone’s imagination of the Northeast — vast, majestic, serene — a peaceful snow-covered landscape painting untouched by the hustle and bustle of the world.