About the Author
This article was written by June, an AASI Level 1 certified snowboard instructor who has spent two winters riding in Hemu, Xinjiang. Having explored many of China's top snowboard destinations, she specialises in big-mountain riding, powder terrain and helping riders discover lesser-known resorts. This guide is based entirely on her first-hand experience of riding and travelling in Hemu.
Intro
Chengdu’s my home, and Taiziling is where my whole snowboarding obsession started. Even after years of chasing bigger mountains further north, I still round up my old crew and drive out here every time I’m back.
Unlike those huge northern resorts that take a full day just to reach, getting to Taiziling is easy. Two or three hours from downtown and you’re pulling into the lodge car park. It’s perfect for quick weekend laps when I just want to dial in my riding without all the hassle.
Winters here are way better than you’d expect, with plenty of bluebird days, light valley winds and basically no altitude sickness, even at the 3,000m summit. On clear mornings, the chairlift views are incredible, with forests coated in rime stretching out beneath bright blue skies. It never gets old.
Piste and Terrain
The resort has two separate base areas: an upper lodge and a lower lodge, each serving completely different levels of riding.
If you’re brand new, stick to the lower lodge.
Right outside you’ll find three green runs: A1, A2 and A3. They’re wide, gentle and free from any surprise drops. Best of all, they’re completely separate from the faster runs, so you don’t have advanced riders flying past while you’re trying to find your feet.
This is exactly where I stumbled through my first turns and built my confidence on a snowboard.
If you’re a little more experienced, head up to the upper lodge, either via the magic carpet from the beginner area or by driving straight up. From here, two magic carpets serve the intermediate runs, while the chairlift accesses the advanced terrain.
The blue runs have a steady, forgiving pitch that’s perfect if you’ve just graduated from the greens and want to work on linking your turns. The only downside is that they’re fairly short, with the longest only around 150 metres. I often felt like I’d only just found a good rhythm before reaching the bottom and having to jump back on the magic carpet for another lap.
There are three blue runs: B1, B2 and B3.
B2 (23.3%) is noticeably steeper than B1 (15.6%) and is usually busier too. Not long after I learned to link my turns, I started pushing myself on B2 and B3 instead. With far fewer people around, I could practise steeper terrain without constantly worrying about getting in someone else’s way.
One quick heads-up: B3 sits to the left of B2 and has a very similar gradient. Just keep an eye uphill because it joins the final section of advanced run C1, so riders can come through surprisingly fast.
Now for the good stuff, and the reason I keep coming back. C1 and C2, along with all the natural terrain around them, offer some of the most playful advanced riding you’ll find anywhere in southern China.
C1
C1 is 1.1km long.
The highlights are the drainage gully halfway down on the left and the steep pitch near the bottom, which reaches a maximum gradient of around 40%.
It’s a brilliant run for practising hard carving and really dialling in your edge control. Just don’t get carried away with your speed because things get pretty spicy towards the bottom.
I learned that the hard way. I once stopped beside the piste for a breather and got taken out by a rider who couldn’t slow down.
C2
C2 is my favourite run on the mountain, hands down.
At 1.3km long, it mixes long cruisy sections with sharper, steeper pitches, making it brilliant for building stamina and learning how to change rhythm throughout a run. There are also a few little off-piste features dotted alongside it if you fancy exploring.
This is usually how I ride it.
Take the chairlift to the top, glide down to the fork and turn left onto C2. The opening section is really mellow, so it’s a great place to cruise or mess around with little ollies. There’s also a side gate on the left leading into some natural terrain, but I’d leave that until you’re completely comfortable riding off-piste.
Back on the groomer, the second pitch stays fairly mellow and is ideal for practising open turns and edge rolls. Further down you’ll find little snow bumps on both sides of the run that are perfect for popping off.
Shortly afterwards you’ll reach the junction for ungroomed run C3. Fingers crossed they open it again next season.
C3 branches off to the right, and there’s a huge bump right at the fork. If you’re feeling confident, it’s a fun little jump.
The lower half of C2 becomes noticeably steeper and finishes with a blind corner, so keep an eye on what’s ahead before committing to the turn.
One thing I’ve noticed about the snow here is that it’s groomed every night, so the mornings are smooth and grippy. By lunchtime it softens up a bit, which honestly makes falling a little less painful. On cloudy days though, the shaded sections start turning icy after about 4pm, especially that final corner on C2.
One nice addition this season is the small terrain park they’ve built on the left-hand side of lower C1. It’s nothing huge, but it definitely makes lapping C1 more fun.
One final thing. You must have your snowboard strapped on to ride the chairlift.
No exceptions.
Food & Where to Stay
When I come up here with friends, I usually stay in the mid-mountain accommodation. It’s a little more expensive than staying in Maoxian, but I think it’s good value, and you’re less than 30 minutes from the slopes.
For lunch, my favourite spot is the outdoor terrace beside the upper base lodge. Sitting outside with a mountain view after a morning of riding never gets old.
You’ve got a few other options too:
- Both base lodges have food courts with plenty of different stalls, so it’s easy to grab everything from quick snacks to proper meals.
- Hemingzhuang Hotel (ski-in, ski-out): It’s definitely the most convenient option, but you’ll pay for it. The rooms are perfectly fine, just don’t expect anything particularly special.
- Maoxian Town: This is the furthest option from the resort, but it has the widest choice of accommodation and, without question, the best food. You’ll find everything from street food and classic Sichuan dishes to excellent hotpot restaurants.
Getting There
Taiziling is one of the easiest ski resorts to reach in southern China.
If you’re flying in, Chengdu Tianfu International Airport is the closest major airport. From there, it’s around a 2.5 to 3.5-hour drive, depending on traffic and road conditions.
If you’re already staying in Chengdu, it’s an easy weekend trip. We usually drive, and from downtown it’s around 2 to 3 hours, making it possible to leave in the morning and still get a full afternoon on the mountain.
If you’re hiring a car, just take it easy on the final mountain road after fresh snowfall.
A Final Note
If you can, try to avoid visiting during public holidays. The resort gets seriously busy, and you’ll probably spend more time standing in lift queues than actually riding.
Final Thoughts
If you live in Chengdu or anywhere else in southern China, or you’re visiting the area and fancy getting a few days on the snow without a gruelling journey north, I honestly think Taiziling is the best choice.
The resort has something for everyone, from complete beginners taking their first turns to advanced riders looking for steeper pistes and playful natural terrain.
As for me, I still round up my old riding buddies and come back every season for a quick mountain escape, a few good laps, and a proper catch-up.
