Yabuli Ski Resort is the largest ski resort in China so far, as well as the largest integrated snow training center in this country. It is located in southeast of Yabuli Town, Shangzhi City, east of Heilongjiang Province, China. It is 177 km southeast from Harbin, 120 km away from Mudanjiang City, 84 km away from China Snow Town. Yabuli hosted the 1996 Winter Asian Games and the 2008 National Winter Games. It will also be a site for the 2009 Winter Universiade. The resort provides great skiing with high mountains and good snow. Local skiers enjoy the high elevation and the fact that the snow is neither too hard nor too powdery. The lowest temperature is -47.2 F. Because of the high elevation, snow falls for a long period of about 170 days. The period from November to late March of the next year is the best time to ski at Yabuli Ski Resort.
The ski resort is located in a valley, which is surrounded by three peaks of the Changbai Mountains. The three peaks are respectively Daguohui Hill (1374 meters high), Erguohui Hill (1100 meters high) and Sanguohui Hill (1000 meters high). Surrounded by hills, the resort is beautiful with dense forest.
Facilities in Yabuli
Facilities in Yabuli ski resort are very well. Yabuli has varied terrain for skiers of every level. There are 11 primary, intermediate and advanced ski runs. The 500-meter-long beginner trails are creatively designed with technical aids available enabling first timers to have their first try and other beginners to progress. The advanced trail that is 3080 meters in length and set 1374 meters above sea level with the vertical drop of 804 meters will give expert skiers the challenge they are looking for. Its alpine ski slopes is the longest in Asia. There is a 5-km long circular cross-country ski run and snowmobile and sled special runs. There are three chair lifts, 3 towing cableways and one carrying-handle cableways. The resort also has a couple of snowmaking machines, snow-packing machines, snowmobiles and other modern ski machinery and equipments; with so many lift and cableways, skiers can be taken up to the top of the ski runs easily by the lift and cableways, they do not need to take off snowboards.
Accommodation in Yabuli
There are many hotels or hostels in and around the ski resort area, from 5 star deluxe hotels, 3 star budget hotels to cheap guest houses. Hotels and hostels can be found from the foot of the mountain to the top.
1. 5 star hotels include Yabuli Broadcast International Hotel, Yabuli Club Med, Sun Mountain Lodge, Yabuli International Convention & Exhibition Centre, etc.
2. 4 star hotels include Yabuli Windmill Village, Yabuli Windmill VIP Building Hotel, Yabuli Qing Yun Town Hot Spring Centre Hotel, etc.
3. 3 star hotels include Yabuli Electric Power Village, Yabuli Xintong Hotel, Yabuli The Olympic Clubl, Yabuli Sanshan Hotel, etc.
4. If you are looking for very cheap accommodation, you may choose to stay in the local guest houses.
Best Time to Visit
From late September to March in next year is the best time to visit. Autumn (from late September to late October) is the most beautiful season of the year in Yabuli. In late September each year in this place, Heilongjiang Forest "Wuhua Mountain" Viewing Festival is kicked off in Yabuli Windmill Village, "Heilongjiang Autumn Travel Photography Exhibition" is also held in Yabuli Windmill Hill as well. "Wuhua Mountain" Viewing Festival was founded in 1999, and has been successfully held for 7 times.
From Mid-November to March in next year is winter time, when it is the best time for skiing. Snow cover period can reach up to 170 days. Extreme minimum temperature here is -44℃, and the average temperature is around -10℃.
How to Get to Yabuli
Yabuli Ski Resort is 177 km southeast from Harbin, 120 km away from Mudanjiang City and 84 km away from China Snow Town. The nearest airport is Harbin Taiping International Airport (HRB) and Mudanjiang Airport (MDG). Both of them are within one or two driving distance to the resort. There are a few options for you to travel from Harbin to Yabuli Ski Resort: by train, by bus or by car rental.
【By train】: There are a few pairs of trains traveling between Harbin and Yabuli Town. The train station in Yabuli Town is located in the central area of the town, and there is still some distance to get to the ski resort. So, you need to transfer to local buses to reach the resort, which will take about 20 minutes.
【By bus】: You may take buses at Longyun Bus Station, which is sited just across Harbin Railway Station. The bus will take you to Yabuli Town central area and about 3 hours for one way. There is still some distance from Yabuli town central area to the resort. You can transfer to Yabuli Resort by local buses.
【By car rental】: Renting a van to take you to the resort would be the most convenient way, but it is also the most expensive one. Many travel agent in China offer car rental service. If you need the service, please contact TopChinaTravel by sales@topchinatravel.com
More Information
- How to Get to Yabuli Ski Resort from Harbin