AMID chilly winter temperatures, many skiing enthusiasts — especially those from southern China — are busy packing for “a migratory trip” to catch the last couple weeks skiing before the snow melts as spring arrives.

China’s skiing industry is currently undergoing a boom period.

According to the China Ski Association, China had 20 million skiers last year — compared to 5 million in 2005.

Once known as an elite sport, skiing has become increasingly popular among affluent middle-class families looking for new entertainment.

And with China bidding to host the 2022 Winter Olympics, interest in winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding is sure to grow further.

While ski resorts in northern Chinese provinces — such as Yabuli in Heilongjiang, Wanlong in Hebei and Beidahu in Jilin — are among the most popular destinations, there are some mostly artificial ski resorts in southern China offering beginner and mid-level runs.

In this week’s Travel, we review four ski resorts around Shanghai. They might not offer competition to the top resorts in the north with regards to scale and facilities, but they can surely satisfy southerners’ cravings for fun in the snow, and expand the options for a weekend getaway.

From waddling duck to zooming downhill

Before arranging this trip to Fenghua, all I knew about this sub-county of Ningbo City was that it was famed for its delicious taro and was the hometown of former Kuomintang leader Chiang Kai-shek.

So it was easy to imagine my surprise when I learned about an outdoor ski resort in Fenghua.

We set out on a highly-polluted day when the Air Quality Index reached over 300 in the Yangtze River Delta region. Standing at the exit of Ningbo railway station, I regretted having ventured outdoors, but this was quickly replaced by a feeling of exhilaration as our car wound its way up the mountain, leaving lower-lying pollutants behind.

“The air is better on clearer days, tasting a bit sweet,” insisted Xia Yinchun, assistant general manager of Shangliang Hill Ski Resort.

Located on Siming Mountain in eastern Zhejiang Province, the resort on Shangliang Hill covers an area of 18,000 square meters at an altitude of some 800 meters above sea level.

As the mercury drops 1 degree Celsius every 100 meters above sea level, it can reach minus 4-5 degrees in winter, making it possible to produce artificial snow, Xia said.

Four snowmaking machines frequently pump snow to cover the three 500m runs that are 70 centimeters thick, making Shangliang Hill a haven for novice skiers since opening in 2007.

The resort, which can cope with 500 skiers, is open from late December to early March.

The snow wasn’t particularly thick or solid on the day we arrived due to recent warm weather.

Still, there was enough snow for rookies like me to fasten on our skis and give it a go.

The first time I put on a pair of ski boots, I waddled like a duck. The boots were so rigid and heavy that there was no way that I could bend my ankles as I normally do when walking.

The challenge came when walking down steps. The trick was to edge away, one foot at a time. Still, I almost tripped over and my instructor basically had to carry me down the first few steps.

But awkwardness faded away once I reached the run. My instructor showed me some basic skills, such as how to fasten the skis, how to keep balanced while sliding down, and how to stop.

“The key is to fight your instincts and control your speed,” said the instructor, surnamed Gu.

The 20-something from northern China is one of the 36 instructors at the resort. They charge 200 yuan (US$32) for an hour’s one-to-one instruction. She says that she can give four lessons every day at peak season.

I didn’t realize how hard it was to “fight your instincts” until I started on my own.

Keep your weight forward even though you feel you’re off-balance; always chin up and look forward for directions, no matter how much you want to look down.

Just like riding a bicycle, you can manage it in the end ... after several falls. After a tumble it took quite an effort to get back onto my feet wearing skis.

And having grown up in relatively snow-free Shanghai walking in deep snow to get uphill was another slog.

But all these efforts were worth it the second I zoomed downhill, adrenalin pumping and my heart almost leaping into the throat.

“It was so cool to ski all the way down!” My friend Chen Cheng cried out when reached the bottom of the slope.

“Even though I had to climb a long way up carrying these stupid, heavy skis.”

With a 30m-run between 12 and 15 degrees, the slopes in Shangliang Hill are only for beginners, Xia said.

A bigger resort, about five times the size of the current one, is due to be built on the other side of the hill, according to the latest plans.

A set of gear — including boots, skis and poles — is available on site. Skiers are advised to bring their own goggles, helmets, gloves and ski jackets.

The charge is 220 yuan an hour at weekends and 180 yuan on weekdays. A current deal offers two hours on weekdays for 180 yuan.

Siming Mountain is one and a half hours drive from downtown Ningbo, ideal for day-trippers. Those who travel at a more leisurely pace can stay at a hotel with 155 rooms. Nearby sights include the Xuedou Temple, which houses a 56-meter statue of sitting Maitreya Bodhisattva.

Opening hours: 9am-5pm, December to March

How to get there: Take a coach from Ningbo railway station and get off at Xikou, then take a tour bus to Shangliang Hill. Or drive along Yong-Jin Highway and get off at Xikou, drive to Xuedou Temple and follow the signs to Shangliang Hill.

(Liu Xiaolin)

Home of bamboo branched out into skiing

For centuries, Anji County in the north of Zhejiang Province has been dubbed “home to bamboo.” Mountain ranges are covered with lush bamboo forests that lured Ang Lee to shoot the famous gravity-defying swordfight scenes of Oscar-winning movie “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” years ago.

The charm of undulating bamboo forests doesn’t decline a bit in winter. On the mountaintops, bamboos are coated with layers of snow, while at the foot of mountains they are still dark green.

Along with the renowned bamboo forests, the county offers visitors another attraction — Jiannan Tianchi Ski Resort. It includes not only skiing facilities but also a hot spring. It has attracted thousands of skiers every year since its establishment in 2006.

The ski resort features a slope 150 meters wide, with an 800-meter run and a drop of 40 meters. Other short gentle slopes were also built to meet different requirements for beginners and kids.

The ski resort was built along Tianhuangping Pumped Storage Power Station at an altitude of 1,000 meters. Average temperatures stay between zero and minus 18 degrees Celsius from December to February.

Since the resort is surrounded by mountains to the east, south and west, the freezing north wind drives straight in every winter, creating a favorable natural environment for snowy weather and keeping artificial snow from melting.

Tourists feel as if they’re entering a white wonderland, as icicles hang from roofs, buildings are wrapped in hoarfrost and crystal rimes on tree branches blaze under sunshine.

It snows more than 20 times a year, according to local weather statistics. Nonetheless, natural snow is not enough to create thick skiing slopes. The resort uses snow-making machines to provide artificial snowflakes, producing at least a 1.5 meter base of snow.

The ski resort charges 150 yuan (US$24) per person per hour during weekdays, 220 yuan during weekends and 260 yuan during holidays. The price includes a pair of skis, ski boots and ski sticks. Skiers can hire a coach at 200 yuan per hour for each person.

“As for beginners, we recommend renting a ski suit, goggles, ski gloves and a helmet, because they are more vulnerable to injures at the beginning. These equipments are available for renting at the resort,” said Hou Yonggang, a ski coach with six year of teaching experience. A whole set of gears can be rented with 60 yuan.

Born in northeastern China, Hou grew up skiing in winter for entertainment. “The artificial skiing slopes in south China are smoother and icier compared with natural ones in northeast China, because the artificial snowflakes have more moisture content than natural snow,” Hou said. “Thus, skiers get hurt more if they tumble onto the artificial skiing slopes.”

“For that reason, beginners should bear in mind the importance of a helmet, because their heads will hit the ground first if they fall over,” Hou added.

The vertical drop of ski slopes also differs according to the differences between natural and artificial snow.

“In the north, slopes are always built at a 30 degrees, while those in south China cannot be higher than 28 degrees,” said Hou, who emphasized the danger for beginners, saying they should not go from the highest point of the slope at first.

In addition to Hou and other coaches, there are a dozen safety workers skiing back and forth and will arrive at the scene as soon as possible if someone is hurt or needs help.

Skiers can also relax in a hot spring high atop the peak amid natural snow. The hot spring can soothe your body, ease aches and pains after skiing.

The resort offers skiing from December through February. When time runs out on skiing, people get a chance to experience grass sliding in other seasons. Artificial grass slopes provide guests the same delight as skiing.

Anji County, different from many cities in the Yangtze River Delta region, usually has good-quality air and boasts a 75 percent vegetation cover.

The local government has adhered to sustainable development and developed environmentally friendly industries, which help protect its fine natural environment and favorable housing conditions.

In 2012, Anji was bestowed with a UN Habitat Scroll of Honor Award by virtue of its natural advantages and local government’s endeavors on environment protection, becoming the only county in China ever to win that honor. The county features abundant tourism resources that provide tourists with alternatives if they come in the warm seasons, such as the Maowutang Scenic Area, Shima River Bend Drifting and Hundreds of Waterfalls in Canglong.

Opening hours: 8am-8pm, daily, late December to early March

How to get there:

From Shanghai: Huyu Expressway — Husuzhe Expressway — Hangchang Expressway — S13Expressway

(Wu Huixin)

Heavy snows make resort a winter wonderland, naturally

SNOW-MAKING machines are used at all ski resorts in southern China to make it possible to ski even when natural snow is insufficient. But a recent heavy snow in Lin’an covered Daming Mountain Ski Resort, turning the whole place into an icy wonderland and creating the rare event where people can ski on real snow.

Even several days after the three-day storm, the mountaintop remains an icy world enveloped in mist. Temperatures are so cold that a 5-meter waterfall is frozen. Now skiers fretting over the lack of real ski spots in southern China can check out the chill at Daming Mountain — if they can catch it before the snow from week’s storm melts.

The resort recommends that skiers arrive by noon and have lunch before hitting the slopes. People can choose among several restaurants run by local farmers, in which bamboo shoot is the local specialty.

Entry tickets cost 150 yuan (US$24) per hour during workdays, 220 yuan per hour during weekends, and 260 yuan per hour during holidays. It’s another 50 yuan to enter the Daming Mountain Scenic Site; the shuttle bus is 25 yuan and the cable car costs 80 yuan. The price includes the rental of skis, snow boots and ski poles, and a shuttle bus to reach the top of the 1,100-meter-high mountain.

Buying online offers significant savings. Find a friend who reads Chinese to search for online coupons; some provide discounts of over 50 percent.

Prepare your camera when the shuttle bus ascends the winding path, so you can shoot rime-wrapped pine trees that take on a bejeweled look, glistening in the sun. The cable car provides a bird’s-eye view of the snow-capped hills, canyons, lakes, pines and rocks.

The ski area covers 50,000 square meters with a choice of slopes. In total, the slopes can accommodate 3,000 skiers at a time. The best way to avoid big crowds is to come in the morning or during the week.

The longest run is 1 kilometer long and 80 meters wide. It’s a beginners’ slope, with an angle of about 30 degrees. A staircase gets people to the top, and it takes at most about five minutes to ski down.

A few tips the resort recommends for beginners: Wear a ski suit. If you don’t have one, water-proof clothes will usually suffice. Bring your own hat and gloves; a warm, wool hat and waterproof gloves are ideal.

You can choose to rent a ski suit, helmet, ski goggles and gloves, which cost from 20 yuan to 30 yuan each. Do not wear glasses or sunglasses. For sanitary reasons, it is suggested you bring your own gloves. You can hire a coach by spending 200 yuan per hour. The coach can handle three people at a time.

Another important tip is to stretch before you start onto the slope. Then if you fall into a split position, it will not hurt that much. When you fall, try to come down on your side or sit down on the ground. Never fall headfirst. To fall is very common among beginners. You can see it happening every minute just by observing a big slope. Falling on soft snow usually does not hurt, as long as it’s not headfirst. Indeed, after a couple of falls you will understand how it works, and with a bit of practice the falls will decrease quickly.

Skiing looks easy, but be aware that one of the first things you should learn is how to move around on skis. One of the most common ways to move over flat or uphill terrain is to keep the skis parallel and push yourself forward with the poles.

Stopping is the most important thing for safety. Point your skis together, then push your heels out to form a wedge with an open point and the leading sides tilted slightly up into the oncoming snow. The wider you spread it, the slower you go. Do not overlap the tips of your skis, because that tends to lead to a loss of control.

For advanced skiers, try steeper trails, where there are far fewer people and more free space.

For those seeking light-hearted fun, there is a 20,000-square-meter play zone where visitors can throw snowballs and build snowmen.

Opening hours: 8:45am-6pm, daily, mid December to early March

How to get there:

From Shanghai: Hukun Expressway — Hangzhou Raocheng Expressway — Changshen Expressway — Hang’rui Expressway — Hebai Line — Dada Line — Daming

(Xu Wenwen)

‘UFO’ hall, ET ... and out of this world scenery

Located in eastern Zhejiang Province, Diyijian Happy Valley is one of the biggest ski resorts in China. It is embraced by rolling mountains, leading to the sensation that you are in an oxygen bar nestled in this naturally beautiful setting.

You can get to the UFO-like main reception hall by cable car, offering a gorgeous aerial view of the resort. In the hall, skiers can rent skis, snowboards, snow boots and other equipment.

Three runs with artificial snow offer plenty of opportunities for different levels — from complete beginners to the most seasoned skiers.

And as beginners don’t have to share their slopes with veteran skiers zooming past, they can build up their confidence more quickly.

On runs of variable styles, you can choose to take a breathtaking leap, slide down looking cool and nonchalant or enjoy the changing scenery at an unhurried pace.

All in all, you are left with the impression that you are skiing in a picture postcard scene.

The ski resort is known for the high quality of artificial snow, which is made by one of the most advanced snowmakers in China, ensuring a high level of comfort.

Ski instructors can be hired for 200 yuan per hour, and if you want to try something different, snowmobiles and dog sleds are also available.

Other attractions include an amusement park — complete with a 12-meter model of a skier, dinosaurs and ET — offering fun away from the slopes and helping create a family-friendly atmosphere.

Opening hours: 8:30am-4:30pm, daily, late December to early March

How to get there:

From Shanghai: Hukun Expressway — Hangzhou Bay Ring Expressway — Hangzhou Bay Bridge ­— Shenhai Expressway — S13Expressway

(Tong Wangyue)