Fresh air, clear skies, and playing outdoors with a group of
friends – what better way to welcome in the New Year and enjoy the
winter season? With the Beijing crowds and increasing high prices
many adventurous residents, travelers and tourists are now
discovering the charm of Inner Mongolia – comfortably breezy in the
summer and chilly but spectacular in the winter. Best of all, it’s
only a forty minute plane hop or a cozy overnight train ride
away.
Hohhot, the provincial capital, is fast becoming a bedroom
community for rich Beijingers who long to escape from the big city.
In the last five years many new leisure attractions have opened,
catering to weekenders and vacationers alike. Today an increasingly
popular sport is downhill skiing.
Holidaymakers enjoy skiing at
Daqingshan, Hohhot on January 1, 2008.
This reporter welcomed the New Year with friends by celebrating
at the Daqingshan Tai Wei Sports and Leisure Resort located just
outside of Hohhot. In the summer this resort serves as a magnet for
golf enthusiasts and in the winter it operates as a family style
ski resort.
The resort is designed for non-professional skiers and for
family fun. They offer a small bunny slope for first timers as well
as a longer, slightly graded slope with an automatic lift for
intermediate skiers. Another area holds tires that all passengers
to whirl around a slick, enclosed arena. For beginners and
enthusiasts the staff includes young ski instructors, all very
knowledgeable and friendly.
Valerie and her friend
Erezhena go skiing at Daqingshan on January 1, 2008.
A free bus from downtown Hohhot carries guests to the resort
several times a day. Upon arriving at the resort visitors buy a ten
yuan pass to enter the slope area. They may choose various amounts
of time to ski, ranging from one hour (80 yuan) to all day (400
yuan). A small service fee is charged to use the ski equipment and
clothing. Everything is in excellent condition. The resort also
offers a small noodle restaurant for hungry clients, as well as a
coffee shop and a small area where children can play video
games.
Directly next to the resort is a hotel. Room rates range from
469 yuan and up. The rooms are clean, comfortable but slightly cold
in the winter. The hotel has full restaurant facilities as well as
a small bathhouse and special indoor areas for golfers to practice
their putting. Winter visitors can stroll around the golf course
and admire the view after a pleasurable day of playing on the mild
slopes.
Tourist Information:
Location: 20 kilometers from downtown Hohhot
Seasonal opening hours winter: late December to March
Telephone: 0471-2307999
Fax: 0471-4620011
Location of free shuttle bus to resort: Xin Hua Square in
downtown Hohhot
Bus leaves Hohhot at: 8:30, 10:30,1:00, 3:00,
Bus returns to Hohhot: 9:30, 11:30, 2:00, 5:30
Ski Entrance Fee: 10 yuan
Ski Pass:
1 hour – 60/80 yuan?(Mon-Fri; weekends)
2 hours – 100/140 yuan
4 hours – 140/200 yuan
all day – 200/ 320 yuan
Hotel room rates: listed at 680, lower prices available
(China.org.cn by Valerie Sartor and George Wang January 4,
2008)
