China - Freeride New Horizons

Impressions of the Scouting trip

In September 25, we set off for the Chinese Altai. The journey via Urumqi was very smooth, and entering the country took exactly 30 seconds. Everything went very quickly and smoothly in the country. The mountains were already blanketed in white at the peaks in September, while the leaves on the trees in the valleys shone golden. Seven new gondolas serve a remarkable mountain with a vertical drop of 1,400 meters. The terrain looks enticingly beautiful; at the summit, the hut owner has already laid the first tracks in the snow. We are completely convinced by the accommodation. We can offer you very beautiful tiny houses, each with a twin room and a spacious bathroom. We will have breakfast and dinner in the main building. We haven't overpromised the cuisine; absolute delicacies are freshly prepared and served every day, from the finest noodle soups to crispy grilled skewers. There are a few things we need to prepare before the trip, such as: For example, you can add your credit card to WeChat and install a VPN app on your mobile phone. Now we look forward to experiencing a completely new and unknown freeride destination with you.

Jikepulin, a New Skiing Destination

At over 50 degrees north latitude, bordering Mongolia, Russia, and Kazakhstan, the country is sparsely populated, and winters are long and harsh. This is also the birthplace of skiing; hunters and trappers have been active in the wintry mountains for over 2,000 years. Construction of the ski area only began four years ago, but there are already an impressive seven state-of-the-art gondola lifts. With their snow-covered peaks and flanks, the mountains are a veritable invitation to freeride. We soar 1,500 meters up to almost 3,000 meters in less than 12 minutes on the gondola. From up here, the Altai Mountains seem endless.

If you'd like to discover a completely new culture and ski where few have gone before, then come with us on a pioneering journey to the Chinese Altai.

Area and Snow Conditions

The region stretches across an area of ​​350 square kilometers on the western slopes of the Yun Xiao Feng Mountains. Many of the runs are directly accessible from the lift, but skins and good bindings are absolutely essential for this trip. While the westward runs repeatedly take us to the valley station, the north side is a bit more adventurous, with runs leading down to the Hemu River and the village of the same name, where local Uyghurs (Kazakhs) still live according to traditional customs of animal husbandry and hunting.

The west side of the Altai Mountains is known for long, harsh winters with plenty of fresh snow. Due to its northern location, snow falls as early as mid-October, reaching the valleys. As in the Altai destinations we know, the winter months are characterized by snow but also by permanently sub-zero temperatures, which is, of course, a clear advantage for the snow quality.

Travel Itinerary

From your home airport, you fly via Kazakhstan to Urumqi in China's Xinjiang Republic. From there, we take a short domestic flight to Burquin Kanas. A shuttle bus takes us up to Jikepulin, where we'll be accommodated, in 1.5 hours. The next seven days are at our disposal to explore and discover this completely unknown region with its almost endless possibilities.

At the end of the trip, we fly back home via Urumqi, bringing with us many wonderful memories and experiences.

Our Hotel

The hotel complex consists of several beautiful tiny houses, each with a twin room and a spacious bathroom. The restaurant is located in the main building, where delicious breakfasts and delicious dinners are served. All delicacies are freshly prepared and served daily, and our palates are pampered with everything from the finest noodle soups to crispy grilled skewers.

Pioneer Trip

We've been monitoring the progress in Jikepulin for a few years now, but the 2026 trip will be our first ski trip to this region. We visited the area in September 2025 and prepared everything as far as possible. However, this is a pilot trip, and we're conducting it for the first time this winter. A bit of an adventurous spirit and flexibility are required should something not work out perfectly right away, as has been the case with trips we've tried and tested for years.