CITY · HEBEI
Wanlong
万龙 · Wànlóng
Overview
Alpine ski resort village in Chongli county, Zhangjiakou, that served as a 2022 Winter Olympic competition venue; the closest internationally competitive ski destination to Beijing, reachable by the Olympic high-speed rail line in under two hours.
Wanlong Ski Resort occupies a deep north-facing valley in Chongli county, part of Zhangjiakou municipality in Hebei province. At a base elevation of around 1,640 metres — higher than most Chinese ski venues — it receives cold, dry air from Inner Mongolia that produces powder snow conditions far better than the lower resorts east of the mountains.
The resort's profile changed permanently with the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. Chongli county, of which Wanlong is part, hosted the alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country, ski jumping, and Nordic combined events. The Genting Secret Garden venue adjacent to Wanlong was the site of the alpine and freestyle competitions. The Olympic legacy has accelerated infrastructure investment across the whole Chongli area — improved roads, the new Taizicheng high-speed rail station connecting to Beijing in 1 hour 20 minutes, and upgraded hotel capacity.
Wanlong's terrain suits skiers of intermediate level and above. The resort has 34 runs covering 2,000 metres of skiable width and a vertical drop approaching 1,000 metres. The upper bowl above the treeline holds snow well and offers some of the best off-piste terrain available within easy reach of Beijing. Snow-making supplements natural snowfall during variable periods, and the resort's north-facing aspect means good preservation of base snow through the season.
The Chongli village area around Wanlong has evolved from a small farming settlement into a ski resort ecosystem: specialised rental shops, mid-range restaurants, Japanese-style ramen bars (popular with the ski crowd), and a growing number of boutique hotels and hostels catering to young Beijing visitors. The atmosphere during Chinese New Year is festive and very crowded; the quietest skiing falls in January on weekdays.
The Taizicheng high-speed rail station makes a day trip from Beijing a practical possibility, though multi-night stays give access to the mountain at off-peak hours. [VERIFY: current Taizicheng station frequency and journey time — May 2026]
What to see
- Wanlong Ski Resort — 34 runs, 2022 Olympic venue, 1,000 m vertical [VERIFY: current lift pass prices — May 2026]
- Genting Secret Garden — adjacent 2022 Winter Olympics alpine venue, now open for public skiing
- Olympic legacy infrastructure — competition facilities and museums in the Chongli zone
- Upper bowl terrain — above-treeline skiing with views over the Hebei highland
- Chongli village area — dining, rental shops, and the rebuilt resort-town atmosphere
- Taizicheng high-speed rail station — the purpose-built 2022 Olympic transport hub
What to eat
- Zhangjiakou lamb hotpot (涮羊肉) — Inner Mongolian-influenced thinly sliced lamb in communal broth
- Japanese-style ramen — a curious but well-established genre in Chinese ski resort towns, popular with the young Beijing crowd
- Jiaozi and northeastern-style dumplings from mid-mountain restaurants
- Potato dishes — Chongli is in a major potato-growing region; roasted and mashed potato appear as side dishes
- Millet porridge (小米粥) — a Hebei-Shanxi staple served at local guesthouses
- Street barbecue (烧烤) at the resort village in the evening
Getting there
The Taizicheng high-speed rail station in Chongli connects to Beijing in approximately 1 hour 20 minutes, with transfers to Wanlong by shuttle bus or taxi [VERIFY: current shuttle bus schedule from Taizicheng to Wanlong — May 2026]. From Beijing Capital Airport (PEK) or Daxing Airport, a road transfer of 3–3.5 hours is the alternative without a rail connection. Buses from Beijing to Chongli run during the ski season.
Getting around
The resort operates gondolas, chairlifts, and shuttle buses within the ski area. The Chongli resort zone is spread over several kilometres; hotels and the resort base are connected by shuttle buses operated by individual properties. A private vehicle or taxi is useful for moving between Wanlong and adjacent resorts.
Where to stay
A range of hotel options exists in and around Wanlong, from budget hostels in Chongli village to four-star resort hotels at the base. Chinese New Year (late January or February) and school holidays are peak periods requiring advance booking. Weeknight availability is usually better.
We list neighbourhoods, not specific hotels — we don't endorse hotels.
When to go
Ski season runs approximately December through March [VERIFY: exact opening date and snow guarantee period — May 2026]. January weekdays offer the best combination of snow conditions and crowd levels. February sees heavy domestic demand during the Spring Festival holiday. Summer visitors find the valley green but skiing is not available.
Budget guide (CNY per day)
| Backpacker | ¥350 |
| Mid-range | ¥900 |
| Comfortable | ¥2500 |
Itineraries visiting Wanlong
Food of Northern China
- Beijing Lamb Hot Pot涮羊肉
Beijing-Mongolian style hot pot — clear broth, thinly-sliced lamb, sesame-paste dipping sauce.
- Boiled Dumplings (Shuijiao)水饺
Wheat-wrapper dumplings filled with pork-and-cabbage, lamb-and-leek, or vegetable, boiled and served with vinegar.
- Cat's Ear Noodles猫耳朵
Small thumbnail-pinched Shanxi pasta, shaped like cat's ears. Stir-fried with vegetables or in soup.
- Goubuli Baozi狗不理包子
Tianjin's signature steamed pork buns. The original house, founded 1858, is still operating.
Spotted something out of date? Submit a correction.
Research
Cross-checked against primary sources
Verified
Address, hours, fees confirmed at the date shown
Updated
Re-verified periodically; corrections welcome