Beidahu’s competition-level facilities help ‘China’s Whistler’ drive growing interest

The lingering excitement of the Asian Winter Games in Harbin got a boost, as attention shifted to Beidahu and the 2024-25 FIS Freestyle Skiing Aerials World Cup on Feb 23 and Feb 24.

Beijing Winter Olympics champion Xu Mengtao celebrated her return to the Jilin province ski resort by clinching the World Cup title.

“I participated in a competition here eight years ago and won. It makes me incredibly happy to win again,” she said, securing victory with an almost perfect jump.

About 400 kilometers away at Yabuli Ski Resort in Heilongjiang province, the snow events of the 9th Asian Winter Games wrapped up just two weeks before, marking a significant milestone for winter sports in Asia. The Chinese sports delegation achieved a record-breaking haul of 32 gold, 27 silver, and 26 bronze medals.

Both Yabuli and Beidahu symbolize China’s commitment to developing professional skiing venues. The two FIS A-level events — the Freestyle Skiing Aerials World Cup and the Freestyle Skiing Moguls World Cup — attracted 200 competitors from China, Germany, Sweden, the United States, Canada, and elsewhere.

The competitions featured numerous Olympic champions and world-renowned athletes, delivering an exhilarating experience for spectators.

Athletes such as Qi Guangpu and Xu seamlessly transitioned from the Asian Winter Games to the competitions at Beidahu, demonstrating the strong connection between these major events.

Competitors have praised the pristine natural snow and well-manicured slopes. Mikael Kingsbury, the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics champion, recalled his early experiences at Beidahu. “It’s changed a lot. I came here in 2010, almost 15 years ago. It was much smaller at that time. It was nice because we had a bit of sun and less wind, which impressed me a lot.”

Finnish skier Severi Vierela, the men’s dual moguls champion at the FIS Freestyle Skiing World Cup in Beidahu, added, “It’s like pure snow, not slushy or anything, so it’s good for athletes to get good scores. The snow condition is great, and the weather is similar to Finland. It feels awesome to win my first World Cup title here.”

The 2024-25 season at Beidahu has set new records, with an unprecedented lineup of events, including three international competitions, three continental events, eight national competitions, and one provincial event.

“This significant growth enhances the appeal of Beidahu Ski Resort,” said Jia Ning, deputy director of the Jilin Provincial Sports Bureau.

On the third day of Chinese New Year, Beidahu hosted the FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup for the first time.

The convergence of high-level sporting events with the festive holiday not only delighted winter sports fans but also bolstered the local economy. The resort reported a significant increase in visitor numbers and revenue during the event, with a 59.2 percent rise in visitors and a 51 percent increase in revenue.

“We are super excited that, as a global Snowboard Cross World Cup tour, we will also be stopping in this part of Asia. It’s also a significant step for Snowboard Cross as a sport,” said Uwe Beier, race director of FIS Cross and Snowboard Alpine.

On Feb 2, the resort recorded its highest single-day visitor count ever. Over the Chinese New Year holiday, Beidahu welcomed 98,100 visitors, marking a 20 percent increase year-on-year, with revenue reaching 55.2 million yuan ($7.6 million), up 23.8 percent from the previous year.

Recognized by the FIS as “China’s Whistler” — referring to the famed Canadian ski resort — Beidahu was established in 1993 and has grown into the largest single ski area in Asia, featuring 74 ski trails, more than 350 professional coaches, and amenities catering to snowboarders of all levels. The resort boasts an area of 275 hectares and a total slope length of 80 km, with multiple lifts ensuring a capacity of up to 31,000 people per hour.

As well as hosting various prestigious events, including the 6th Asian Winter Games and numerous World Cup competitions, Beidahu also served as a training base for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics. The venue’s ongoing development reflects a narrative of growth and innovation, encouraging greater participation in winter sports within the local community.

The continuous enhancement of facilities and services has attracted numerous skiing enthusiasts, bolstering Beidahu’s reputation as a premier winter sports destination.

Having already surpassed the goal of engaging 300 million Chinese people in ice and snow sports, more international visitors are coming to experience winter sports in China.

“This is my third year skiing at Beidahu, and the snow quality here is excellent, with warm sunshine and calm winds, making it a truly enjoyable experience,” said Steve Balno, a skier from Canada.

“Although it’s far from my hometown, there’s a sense of familiarity. The resort undergoes changes every year, which keeps things fresh and exciting for me,” he added.

As of Feb 6, Beidahu Ski Resort had welcomed 819,200 visitors during the 2024-25 snow season, a 45.3 percent increase compared to the same period last year.

Tourists generated total revenue of 413 million yuan, marking a 45.7 percent growth year-on-year. “We are on track to achieve our goal of welcoming over one million visitors this ski season,” said Yan Shuai, marketing director of Beidahu Ski Resort.

Looking ahead, Jilin province plans to leverage its unique ice and snow resources to enhance event quality, transforming more competitions into globally celebrated, gold-standard experiences.

This effort aims to attract more high-level competitions to the province, promoting ice and snow sports as an engaging window into China. Additionally, initiatives will continue to encourage youth involvement in winter sports, sustaining public participation.

The development of Beidahu reflects Jilin province’s broader progress in the ice and snow sector. “In recent years, Jilin has been actively promoting the high-quality development of its ice and snow industry, turning ‘cold resources’ into a ‘hot effect,’” said Sun Guangzhi, director of the Jilin Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism.

“We are working to build the ‘Changbai Snow for All’ brand, accelerating the comprehensive development of ice and snow sports, tourism, culture, and equipment manufacturing. This approach aims to establish a full-industry, full-chain cold-region ice and snow ecosystem,” Sun added.