Beidahu and Songhuahu: Jilin's Two Ski Resorts Compared

Jilin's Two Great Ski Resorts, Side by Side

Jilin Province has quietly become China's skiing heartland, and its two flagship resorts sit close enough to each other to compare on one trip. Beidahu, in the mountains west of Jilin City, is the advanced skier's playground: 74 slopes, about 80 kilometres of runs, a maximum vertical drop of 870 metres, and a reputation for night skiing that few Chinese resorts can match. Songhuahu, closer to Jilin City, is the family option: 37 slopes at friendlier prices (around 450 yuan), gentle runs for beginners, and ski schools that take first-timers seriously.

Which One Fits You?

• Advanced and intermediate — Beidahu: the bigger vertical, the longer runs, night skiing, and a lively resort base with hotels and restaurants
• Families and first-timers — Songhuahu: gentler slopes, lower prices, patient instructors, and easy access from Jilin City
• Want both? — the resorts are close enough to combine: a day at each, with a night in Jilin City between them

The Rime + Ski Combination

What makes Jilin skiing special is what surrounds it. Twenty minutes from Jilin City lies Rime Island, one of China's four great natural wonders — river mist freezing onto willows at dawn. A day can hold both: sunrise among the crystal trees, then a morning on the slopes. It is a combination you will not find anywhere else in China, and it turns a ski trip into a winter highlight reel.

Practical Notes

• Getting there — high-speed rail to Jilin City, then a short transfer to either resort; both are well-served in season
• Book ahead — weekends and holidays sell out; book lift tickets and hotels through the resorts' official accounts
• Gear and lessons — rentals are easy at both; book an instructor for your first session — it transforms the day
• Season — December to February is peak; both resorts typically open earlier and close later

Frequently Asked Questions