On a scale from 0 to 20 (0 = the ski mound in Chaoyang park, 10 = Nanshan)
BaDaLing is a 3 – lacking ski runs but the place has potential.
BaDaLing Ski Resort (http://www.bdlskiing.com/ ) is a short ride from the BaDaLing section of the Great Wall. Though you can’t see the Wall from the resort, the scenery has the same wild and rugged look.
BaDaLing is something of an enigma. It has all the features of a good ski resort yet is lacking the most basic one; ski runs – it has only three ski runs! The place does have potential though. They have a nice lodge, decent equipment, snow grooming and surrounding terrain perfect for adding additional runs.
It is most suitable for beginners who will appreciate the conveyor belt lifts and find smaller lines than a lot of other places. There is no reason for intermediate or advanced skiers to come here, especially for the 2009-2010 season when the sole intermediate run is closed. The same for snowboarders who have zilch for kickers/rails and won’t like the narrow runs.
So few foreigners go here you encounter a high “hello” factor, most annoyingly from the staff as well.
There are lots of attractions in the area. Make a full day of it:
Start off early with a trip to the China North International Shooting Range where you can try out various military rifles, machine guns or skeet shoot. Hire a car to the Ming Tombs (the driver will know: “shiSanLing”) or BaDaLing Great Wall. Hire another car to the ski resort for some afternoon skiing. If it is getting late, opt for the night skiing at JunDunShan instead.
Prices: Park entrance is 20RMB/person. Rental is RMB118/day on the weekend. Rental is free for the first month of the ski season (call for exact dates).
Equipment: Range of equipment, mostly Nordica, in decent condition. Small selection of snowboards. There were no lines getting equipment and no plastic cards to mess with.
Lodge: A large and attractive lodge that actually offers hotel accommodation. The equipment area takes up the first floor. Nicely arranged so you visit the lockers before you pick up your skis. Plenty of room at the lockers. The 2nd floor eating area had huge wood tables with good views of the slope. They served only Chinese food, notably, individual hotpot or buffet, both for RMB 38, and of course special order. Outside seating, just off the ski field, offered barbeque with two small shacks selling snacks and drinks. The hot chocolate is best avoided.
Lifts/Runs:
• Two easy hills served by 2 conveyor belt lifts and one disc lift. Waits never exceeded 10 minutes.
• One intermediate hill served by a chair lift is CLOSED for 2009/2010 while they work on it.
Getting there: Take subway line 2 to JiShiuTan. From exit A, walk east to the DeShengMen bus station, take express bus 919 to BaDaLing, let the attendant know you are going to the ski resort. Hire a driver to the resort for 10RMB. The bus takes 80 minutes in good traffic.
Getting back: The returning 919 buses can be packed and may hit traffic as well. You may find yourself standing until Changping when a lot of people exit.
Night skiing: No.
The owners should: Construct an advanced run going all the way to the top of the surrounding hills. Put a small lodge there with 360 views. Serve it with a quad lift. Don’t flatten out the run but leave in some of the natural slopes and humps of the terrain. Hire professional resort designers to help out; give us a reason to drive the extra distance past JunDuShan to get to your resort.
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