Wanlong Ski Resort: China's Snowmaking Pioneer Nears Its 2026-27 Opening

Snow guns blowing fresh snow across the Wanlong base area in October 2026

Walk around Wanlong Ski Resort in mid-October and you hear it before you see it: rows of snow guns roaring to life, painting the base area white while the surrounding mountains still wear their autumn brown. Snowmaking at Wanlong started on October 12 this season, and the resort is expected to open its first trails in late October — once again among the earliest openings in Chongli and in all of China.

The Snowmaking Pioneer

Wanlong has built its reputation on snowmaking discipline. Last season it opened on October 21, the earliest opening in the resort's history. For 2026-27 the mountain upgraded to new high-temperature snowmaking equipment, which improves both snowmaking efficiency and the stability of snow quality — meaning good surfaces even when nature is slow to cooperate.

My Personal Favorite

I have skied and taught at every major resort in Chongli, and Wanlong remains my favorite. The snow quality is outstanding, and the off-piste terrain — birch forests, natural rolls and sidecountry chutes between the trails — is, in my experience, among the very best in the region. If you love hunting for fresh lines away from the groomers, this is your mountain.

First snow blanket on the lower slopes while the mountains still show autumn colors

A Chongli Pioneer Since 2003

Opened in 2003, Wanlong was one of the first modern ski resorts in Chongli and helped put the valley on the map long before the 2022 Winter Olympics. The mountain rises from 1,650 to 2,110 meters with more than 30 trails across every difficulty level, and it welcomed a record 600,000 guests in the 2024-2025 season.

What Is New for 2026-27

This season Wanlong added a new lift equipped with face and fingerprint recognition for faster boarding, plus three new terrain parks. Last winter it also built four backcountry halfpipe features for advanced freeriders — part of a continuing investment in natural terrain that few resorts match.

Fresh snow on the upper mountain under a clear blue sky

First Snow, First Tracks

On October 20 I wrote the date in the fresh snow at the resort gate — a small tradition to mark the start of another season. Within days the first trails will open, and the early-season crowd will be small, the snow fresh and the light golden. It is, honestly, one of the most rewarding times of the year to ski here.

The date 2026-10-20 written in the first snow at the Wanlong resort gate

Ski Wanlong With Us

We are based at Wanlong all winter and offer private and group lessons in English and Chinese, airport transfers from Beijing, and full trip coordination. If you want first tracks on freshly made snow this season, send us an inquiry — early-season weekends fill up quickly.

Plan Your Ski Trip to China

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