Think of a kettle. That image embodies the essence of Beidahu, though it is a mountain. Not a lake. The name Beidahu has an interesting origin. It was once mistakenly called Beidahu. The Chinese character for “lake” was used.
Beidahu is located in Jilin Province. It is not far from Jilin City. The area is now officially Beidahu Ski Resort. It is a national AAAA-level scenic spot. People call it “ski resort and pink snow paradise.”
In the 1960s, a geological surveying team made a mistake. They thought there was a lake here. In 2011, the local government corrected the name. They changed the “lake” character to “pot”. This was to honor the area’s unique landscape. Beidahu is surrounded by mountains on three sides. Its long, narrow shape resembles a kettle. Locals refer to it as “Peking University Pot”.
Pi Fusheng was a researcher. He studied the literature and history of the Jilin CPPCC. He said that there used to be a place called “Qing Cha Guan” nearby. This translates roughly to tea house. It existed for over 200 years. The name “Beidahu” may have come from this tea house.
Today, Beidahu Ski Resort is a popular destination. It is known for its high-quality ski trails. The snow cover is deep. The snow periods are long. There are 64 ski trails. They total 72 kilometers in length. The area covers 239 hectares. Eleven cable cars and seven magic carpets transport skiers.
Beidahu Ski Resort is one of the largest in Asia. It has hosted many international events. These include the Freestyle Skiing World Cup. It also hosted the Asian Winter Games. National Winter Games were also held here.
The resort boasts excellent facilities. There are star-rated hotels. The hotels offer various styles and features. There are over 2300 rooms. This equals 8000 beds. The hotels create a comfortable holiday experience.
Beidahu offers diverse terrain. There are gentle slopes. There are also nine peaks over 1200 meters high. Mountains surround the resort on three sides. This provides shelter in winter. The climate is ideal for skiing. The average winter temperature is -10 degrees Celsius.
The snow season is long. It usually starts in late October. It ends in late April. The snow period lasts about 160 days. Snow depth varies. It is 0.5 meters at the base. It reaches 1.5 meters higher up.
Even with little snowfall, Beidahu has water sources. Six mountain springs run year-round. The annual precipitation is 670mm. This provides water for making artificial snow.
Beidahu Ski Resort offers trails for all skill levels. N10 Xingguang Trail is for beginners. N1 Sunshine Trail suits junior and intermediate skiers. E14 Qingyun Trail is a classic. It has a vertical drop of 690 meters. E9 Audi Q7 and N2 are for advanced skiers only.
Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, Beidahu offers a memorable skiing experience. Remember its unique name and kettle-like shape. Beidahu is a mountain of winter fun.