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Home of bamboo branched out into skiing
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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
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