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Hot options for outdoor winter fun
By Wu Huixin and Xu Wenwen |
December 19, 2012, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
WINTER can seem a gloomy time of year, yet there are plenty options for outdoor fun, whether skiing, skating or just taking a dip in a hot spring surrounded by a chilly landscape.
As southern China mostly lies in a subtropical region, there's little snow or ice and it has fewer winter sports and activities than other areas.
But luckily, Hangzhou boasts two winter hot spots: Daming Mountain Ski Resort in Lin'an, known for its high mountains and lofty trees, and Xin'an River Hot Spring in Jiande, which is renowned for the scenic Xin'an River.
Shanghai Daily tied on its snow shoes and paid them a visit.
Daming Mountain Ski Resort
As Hangzhou sees little snow, this ski resort on a mountain relies on snow-making machines to provide its white coat.
But the snow is real enough, with flakes swirling around skiers as they zoom down the slopes. The frequency of the snowfall is regulated to ensure sufficient coverage.
Daming Mountain is 1,100 meters high, with cable cars taking skiers to the top and providing a bird's-eye view of the mountain, lake and forest.
The skiing zone covers an area of 20,000 square meters, with a choice of slopes. The longest run is one kilometer long and the resort can accommodate 1,500 skiers on the slopes at any one time.
For those seeking some light-hearted fun, there is a 5,000-square-meter play zone where customers can throw snowballs and build snowmen.
Visitors can also just appreciate the scenery, as Daming Mountain Scenic Area is listed as the one of the top 10 scenic areas in Zhejiang Province. Natural attractions include waterfalls, virgin forest, striking rock formations, valleys and creeks.
Opening hours: 8am-8pm
Price: Daming Mountain Ski Resort has special offers from Christmas Day to January 6. These include: 158 yuan (US$25.3) per person on weekdays; 198 yuan per person at the weekends; and 288 yuan per person for the holidays. The ticket includes the rental of skis, snowshoes and ski poles.
How to get there: Drive on Hanghui Expressway and get off at Exit of Bai Guo Zi Kou.
Tips: You can bring your own skiwear or rent there. To hire a coach costs 200 yuan. The resort offers accommodations, with room rate ranging from 180 yuan to 480 yuan a night.
Xin'an River Hot Spring
This is the only hot spring in Zhejiang Province that naturally contains sulfur, which is known to help protect the body against toxins in the environment.
The hot spring at the Xin'an River in Jiande contains 3.07 milligrams of hydrogen sulfide per kilogram of water, more than half the national standard of sulphur content in curative mineral water.
The spring was discovered in 1987 by oil exploration workers. The oilmen didn't strike the black stuff, but did find the sulfur-rich spring 700 meters below the surface. So in 2009, Xin'an River Hot Spring bubbled into life as a tourist attraction.
Hot springs make for a soothing getaway in the winter. A good long soak can rejuvenate the mind and provide health benefits to the body.
People with arthritis may find pain relief from taking a soothing bath in sulfur hot springs.
The resort has two pools in the size of regular swimming pools, six smaller ponds big enough for a dozen people, plus three rooms, each with one small pond.
The large ponds have small waterfalls and massage chairs that soothe the neck and back. In some of the small ponds, Chinese herbs, rice wine or coffee are added to the water to provide therapeutic effects.
Opening hours: Noon to midnight
Price: 148 yuan for adults, 80 yuan for children between 1.1 and 1.4 meters and free for children under 1.1 meters
How to get there: Drive on the Hangxinjing Expressway and get off at the Shouchang Exit (to Nanjing City).
Tips: Bring your swimsuit. The hot spring only has a public bathroom, so you may want to change into your costume before going to the spring. Accommodation is available.
As southern China mostly lies in a subtropical region, there's little snow or ice and it has fewer winter sports and activities than other areas.
But luckily, Hangzhou boasts two winter hot spots: Daming Mountain Ski Resort in Lin'an, known for its high mountains and lofty trees, and Xin'an River Hot Spring in Jiande, which is renowned for the scenic Xin'an River.
Shanghai Daily tied on its snow shoes and paid them a visit.
Daming Mountain Ski Resort
As Hangzhou sees little snow, this ski resort on a mountain relies on snow-making machines to provide its white coat.
But the snow is real enough, with flakes swirling around skiers as they zoom down the slopes. The frequency of the snowfall is regulated to ensure sufficient coverage.
Daming Mountain is 1,100 meters high, with cable cars taking skiers to the top and providing a bird's-eye view of the mountain, lake and forest.
The skiing zone covers an area of 20,000 square meters, with a choice of slopes. The longest run is one kilometer long and the resort can accommodate 1,500 skiers on the slopes at any one time.
For those seeking some light-hearted fun, there is a 5,000-square-meter play zone where customers can throw snowballs and build snowmen.
Visitors can also just appreciate the scenery, as Daming Mountain Scenic Area is listed as the one of the top 10 scenic areas in Zhejiang Province. Natural attractions include waterfalls, virgin forest, striking rock formations, valleys and creeks.
Opening hours: 8am-8pm
Price: Daming Mountain Ski Resort has special offers from Christmas Day to January 6. These include: 158 yuan (US$25.3) per person on weekdays; 198 yuan per person at the weekends; and 288 yuan per person for the holidays. The ticket includes the rental of skis, snowshoes and ski poles.
How to get there: Drive on Hanghui Expressway and get off at Exit of Bai Guo Zi Kou.
Tips: You can bring your own skiwear or rent there. To hire a coach costs 200 yuan. The resort offers accommodations, with room rate ranging from 180 yuan to 480 yuan a night.
Xin'an River Hot Spring
This is the only hot spring in Zhejiang Province that naturally contains sulfur, which is known to help protect the body against toxins in the environment.
The hot spring at the Xin'an River in Jiande contains 3.07 milligrams of hydrogen sulfide per kilogram of water, more than half the national standard of sulphur content in curative mineral water.
The spring was discovered in 1987 by oil exploration workers. The oilmen didn't strike the black stuff, but did find the sulfur-rich spring 700 meters below the surface. So in 2009, Xin'an River Hot Spring bubbled into life as a tourist attraction.
Hot springs make for a soothing getaway in the winter. A good long soak can rejuvenate the mind and provide health benefits to the body.
People with arthritis may find pain relief from taking a soothing bath in sulfur hot springs.
The resort has two pools in the size of regular swimming pools, six smaller ponds big enough for a dozen people, plus three rooms, each with one small pond.
The large ponds have small waterfalls and massage chairs that soothe the neck and back. In some of the small ponds, Chinese herbs, rice wine or coffee are added to the water to provide therapeutic effects.
Opening hours: Noon to midnight
Price: 148 yuan for adults, 80 yuan for children between 1.1 and 1.4 meters and free for children under 1.1 meters
How to get there: Drive on the Hangxinjing Expressway and get off at the Shouchang Exit (to Nanjing City).
Tips: Bring your swimsuit. The hot spring only has a public bathroom, so you may want to change into your costume before going to the spring. Accommodation is available.
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