Tuesday 27 December 2016

Top 6 Ski Resorts in China


Yabuli International Ski Resort 


China’s largest and best ski resort so far, Yabuli Ski Resort has advanced trail, intermediate trail and primary trail, with complete supporting facilities.
Season: Early November – April
Location: Shangzhi City, 198km away from Harbin, Heilongjiang Province in northeast China
Floor space: 22.55 square kilometers
Trail vertical drop: From 200m to 1200m with the average drop of 700m
Idea for: all including the beginners and experienced skiers
Recommended tour to Yabuli Harbin: 5-day Harbin Tour


Beijing Huaibei International Ski Resort


The earliest ski resort in Beijing, it is considered the most beautiful ski resort in China, as the ski glade is connected and surrounded by the Great Wall of Mutianyu Section.
Season: December to March
Location: 70km from downtown Beijing, in the Jiugukou (Nine Valleys Pass) Natural Scenic Area
Floor space: 9.6 square kilometers
Trail: 1 advanced trail, 3 intermediate trails and 4 primary trails, with average vertical drop of 238m
Idea for: beginners

Beijing Nanshan Ski Resort


The best and largest ski resort in Beijing, it is a comprehensive leisure resort, also with skating rink, water ski and grass skiing facilities.
Season: Mid December to March
Location: in Miyun District, 62km away from the city center
Trails: 21
Ski Board: Yes
Idea for: all including the beginners and experienced skiers


Xiling Ski Resort


Situated on Xiling Snow Mountain, the highest mountain in Chengdu, it is the largest and best alpine ski resort in China.
Season: Mid December to March
Location: 120km away from Chengdu, Sichuan Province
Trail: 7, 1km in length
Idea for: all including the beginners and experienced skiers

Jilin Beidahu Ski Resort


Beidahu Ski Resort has successfully held national Winter Games for twice and Asian Winter Games for once.
Season: Early November – April
Location: Beidahu Development Zone, Jilin, 53km away from the city center
Trails: 19, with the average drop of 930m (the biggest drop among China ski resorts)
Ski Board: Yes
Idea for: all including the beginners and experienced skiers


Changbaishan Ski Resort


It is an ideal alpine ski resort, with perfect natural condition. Ever since its completion in 1959, numerous professional athletes have been here for snow skiing training.
Season: late November till middle March
Location: at the foot of Changbaishan Mountain, 220km away from Yanqing City, Jilin Province
Idea for: all including the beginners and experienced skiers
Nearby scenic spots: Tianchi Lake, Erdaobai River, hot springs

Thursday 22 December 2016

China Winter Trip Ideas: Top Places to Enjoy Blooming Plum Flowers

Plum flower, in traditional Chinese culture, is the symbol of grace and nobility, and always inspired ancient writers, poets and calligraphers. In this cold winter, instead of moping around the house all day, why not go out and enjoy the blooming plum flowers.


In Beijing 


Lingfeng Plum Flower Forests – It’s said local monks have planted plum trees since Qing Dynasty. Today, there are over 5000 plum trees of tens of varieties.
Beijing Botanical Garden – Many people visit the park to make pilgrimage to the Reclining Buddha Temple and the two plum trees in front of it.

Xiangshan Mountain – Access the park through the east gate, and head for the Liuli Tower, and you’ll find the plum trees valley.

In Hangzhou 


Lingfeng Peak – the most popular place to enjoy plum blossom in Hangzhou, it is home to more than 5000 plum trees of over 50 varieties and a dozen of historic sites.

Xixi National Wetland Park - the first and only national wetland park in China, it possesses some of the best plum tree variety.
Gushan Mountain – the plum blossom has been famous ever since Tang Dynasty, thanks to moist soil and ample sunlight.


In Nanjing  


Meihua Mountain (Plum Blossom Mountain) and Gulin Park are the best places: there’re festivals with many activities about plum blossom. Visitors can enjoy the beautiful scenery with blooming flowers, taking awesome photos, and simply have fun.


In Chengdu  


Happiness Plum Tree Forest – the primitive village is embraced by hundreds of thousands of plum trees. Enjoy the free winter days with the farm food, tea, sunshine and plum blossom.

Du Fu Thatched Cottage one of the famous cultural sites in Chengdu, the place becomes a classical garden in winter with rows of blooming plum trees, lovely pond, humble cottage, ancient bridge, temple…

In Kunming


Black Dragon Pool Park – The Spring City Kunming is known for the colorful flower markets available all year round. But if you want to see the plum blossom, go visit the Black Dragon Pool Park. Tens of thousands of plum trees of over 100 varieties have been blooming since early January.

In Libo Guizhou 


Libo Maolan Karst Primitive Forest – about 20,000 wild plum trees grow here, including100 over 200-year-old ones, with the surreal limestone peaks as the background.

In Shanghai  


Shanghai Grand view Garden – It’s the biggest Plum tree garden in Shanghai, with stunning colors from red to pink and green to white, and match perfectly with the ancient bridges, river, pavilions and paths.

Qingpu Plum Tree Garden – You’ll see houses and structures of antique Jiangnan architectural style, over 5000 plum trees and many other kinds of flowers and plants.

Wednesday 7 December 2016

Shanghai’s Michelin-starred Restaurants

Michelin’s first edition in mainland China, Michelin Guide for Shanghai 2017 was released in September, with which, 26 local restaurants was announced to be Michelin-star restaurants.
18 restaurants in total gained first star, and seven restaurants gained their two stars. While surprisingly, T'ang Court, the only one, went straight in at the top with Michelin’s highest accolade of three stars.
China food tour to Shanghai:
Shanghai's first only three-Star Michelin restaurant:
T'ang Court (唐阁): It is a traditional Cantonese restaurant at the Langham Shanghai hotel, with a very fancy dining room that holds just six tables. (Its sister restaurant also called T'ang Court in Hong Kong was crowned three Michelin stars in 2015.)

Two-Star Michelin Restaurants:
8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana
L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon
Canton 8
Ultraviolet
Yi Long Court
Yongfoo Elite
Imperial Treasure
Canton 8 is one of the world’s cheapest two-starred restaurants with a lunch price as low as 48 yuan, about $7.


One-Star Michelin Restaurants:
Sir Ellys
Da Dong (IAPM)
Da Dong (Park Palace)
Madam Goose (Xinzhuang)
Phenix
Fu He Hui
Seventh Son (Kerry Center)
Jin Xuan
Kanpai Classic
Lao Zheng Xing
Lei Garden (IFC)
Lei Garden (IAPM)
Shang-HighLa Patio & La Famille
Jade Mansion
Tai’an Table
Xin Rong Ji (Shanghai Plaza)
Yong Yi Ting