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Jikepulin International Ski Resort (吉克普林国际滑雪度假区) is the crown jewel of skiing in Xinjiang, China. Tucked beside the ancient Tuva village of Hemu in Burqin County, Altay Prefecture, this mega-resort boasts the largest vertical drop of any ski resort in China (1,466 meters), 103 ski runs totaling 108 kilometers, and some of the driest, deepest powder snow in Asia—earning it the nickname "China's Powder Snow Factory."
This complete travel guide covers everything you need to plan a 2026–2027 ski trip to Jikepulin: how to get there, lift ticket and rental prices, the best runs for every skill level, when to visit, and how to combine your ski holiday with Kanas Lake and Hemu Village—two of northern Xinjiang's most magical winter destinations.
Content›Where Is Jikepulin International Ski Resort? ›How to Get to Jikepulin Ski Resort ›Jikepulin Lift Ticket Prices (2026-2027 Season) ›FAQ |
Jikepulin sits in Hemu Township, Burqin County, in the Altay region of northern Xinjiang, right next to Hemu Village inside the greater Kanas scenic area. The resort lies at roughly 48 degrees north latitude—the same "golden skiing belt" as the Alps and Hokkaido—close to where China meets Russia, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia.
The surrounding mountains receive abundant snowfall from early October to mid-May, a snow cover period of around 220 days, with maximum snow depths of 3 to 5 meters. Winter here is famously calm and windless, which makes the cold surprisingly comfortable and the powder exceptionally well-preserved.
l Chinese Name: 吉克普林国际滑雪度假区 (Jíkèpǔlín)
l Location: Hemu Township, Burqin County, Altay Prefecture, Xinjiang, China
l Summit Elevation: 2,848 meters (Aximaili Peak / Yunxiao Peak)
l Maximum Vertical Drop: 1,466 meters — the largest in China
l Ski Runs: 103 runs, 108 km total (including 28 off-piste runs of 38 km)
l Race-Certified Runs: 12 runs meeting FIS (International Ski Federation) standards
l Off-Piste Terrain: Over 2,500 hectares of ungroomed skiing area
l Lifts: 8 lifts in operation plus 4 magic carpets (18 lifts planned), with a carrying capacity of 15,000+ skiers per hour
l Snow Season: November to May (approximately)
l Resort Grade: National 5S-level ski resort and national ski tourism resort
Among China's fast-growing ski destinations, Jikepulin stands apart for its sheer scale, snow quality, and setting. Here are four reasons it deserves a place on every skier's bucket list.
With 1,466 meters of vertical, Jikepulin offers descents that simply don't exist anywhere else in China. Eight signature runs each drop more than 1,000 vertical meters, and the flagship Koktokay Run stretches 11.2 kilometers—widely regarded as Asia's longest ski run.
The Altay Mountains produce light, dry powder thanks to cold continental air and low humidity. Locals call the region the birthplace of skiing itself—ancient rock paintings of skiers found in Altay date back more than 10,000 years. Deep base depths of 3–5 meters mean powder days are the norm, not the exception.
The resort is split into an East Zone and a West Zone, each with its own rental hall and services. The West Zone hosts the new beginner area with gentle slopes and automatic magic carpets, while the East Zone serves up intermediate and advanced terrain. One ski pass works in both zones, with a shuttle bus running between them in about 8 minutes.
Few ski resorts in the world border a centuries-old Tuva village. After your last run, you can wander the log cabins of Hemu Village, sip milk tea with local herders, and wake up to smoke rising from wooden chimneys under snow-capped peaks.
Reaching this remote corner of the Altai Mountains is easier than you might expect. Most international travelers route through Urumqi or fly directly into the Altay region.
Fly into Altay Xuedu Airport (阿勒泰雪都机场), which receives flights from Urumqi and, during the winter season, from major Chinese cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, and Xi'an. From the airport, the resort is roughly 3.5–4 hours by road (about 230 km) via Burqin toward Hemu.
Alternatively, fly to Kanas Airport in season or to Urumqi Diwopu International Airport, then continue overland.
l Altay City to Hemu/Jikepulin: about 3.5–4 hours by private transfer
l Burqin County town to the resort: about 2.5 hours (140 km)
l Urumqi to the resort: a long but spectacular journey of 9+ hours, best broken up with stops in Beitun or Burqin
Pro Tip: Winter mountain roads in Altay can be icy and occasionally closed by heavy snow. Booking a private 4WD transfer with an experienced local driver is strongly recommended—and it turns the drive through the Altai Mountains into part of the adventure. |
Prices below are the official published rates for the 2026–2027 snow season, in Chinese Yuan (CNY) per person. Holiday pricing applies during New Year's Day and Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) holidays.
Beginner Area Tickets (初级道)
Ticket Type | Regular Day (CNY) | Holiday (CNY) |
4-hour (own equipment) | 240 | 340 |
4-hour (equipment included) | 280 | 380 |
Full day (own equipment) | 280 | 380 |
Full day (equipment included) | 320 | 420 |
Intermediate & Advanced Tickets (中、高级道)
Ticket Type | Regular Day (CNY) | Holiday (CNY) |
4-hour (own equipment) | 329 | 429 |
4-hour (equipment included) | 429 | 529 |
Full day (own equipment) | 399 | 499 |
Full day (equipment included) | 499 | 599 |
Children's Tickets
Ticket Type | Regular Day (CNY) | Holiday (CNY) |
Full day (age 7 and under, beginner area only) | 180 | 280 |
Notes: "Own equipment" tickets include the lift pass only. "Equipment included" tickets bundle skis, boots, and poles. A refundable snow card deposit of CNY 20 per person applies.
If you prefer not to travel with gear, the resort's rental shops in both the East and West Zone service halls offer the following daily rates:
Equipment Rental Price List
Equipment | Price (CNY/piece) |
Helmet | 20 |
Goggles | 20 |
Gloves | 20 |
Ski poles | 20 |
Protective gear (pads) | 50 |
Standard snowsuit | 50 |
Premium snowsuit | 188 |
Powder snowboard (boots included) | 150 |
Performance ski set (boots included) | 100 |
Deposits: equipment deposit CNY 500 per person; premium powder/performance board deposit CNY 1,000. Equipment must be returned to the same zone where it was rented.
Jikepulin Ski School offers certified coaches at three levels, plus foreign (English-speaking) coaches for private lessons. Prices below are per coach per lesson, in CNY, based on the 2024–2025 published rates—please confirm current-season rates at the resort.
Weekday Coaching Prices (Mon–Fri)
Coach Type | Students | 2 Hours | 3 Hours | Full Day (6 hrs) |
Beginner coach | 1 person | ¥500 | ¥700 | ¥1,350 |
Beginner coach | 2 people | ¥800 | ¥1,100 | ¥2,100 |
Intermediate coach | 1 person | ¥700 | ¥1,000 | ¥1,900 |
Intermediate coach | 2 people | ¥1,200 | ¥1,700 | ¥3,100 |
Advanced coach | 1 person | ¥900 | ¥1,260 | ¥2,400 |
Foreign coach | 1 person | — | ¥2,500 | ¥4,900 |
Foreign coach | 2 people | — | ¥3,500 | ¥6,900 |
Weekend & Holiday Coaching Prices (Sat–Sun, New Year’s Day & Spring Festival)
Coach Type | Students | 2 Hours | 3 Hours | Full Day (6 hrs) |
Beginner coach | 1 person | ¥600 | ¥850 | ¥1,500 |
Beginner coach | 2 people | ¥960 | ¥1,350 | ¥2,600 |
Intermediate coach | 1 person | ¥840 | ¥1,180 | ¥2,160 |
Intermediate coach | 2 people | ¥1,440 | ¥2,050 | ¥3,900 |
Advanced coach | 1 person | ¥1,080 | ¥1,540 | ¥2,950 |
Foreign coach | — | Not available on weekends/holidays |
Other Coaching Options
Service | Weekday (Mon–Fri) | Weekend & Holiday |
Guest coach / mountain guide (per person, 6+ hours; solo travelers can be matched into groups) | ¥2,600 | ¥2,900 |
Beginner group lesson (team of 3–5, per person, 2-hour session, trial lessons) | ¥300 | ¥400 |
The ski season at Jikepulin typically runs from November to May, one of the longest seasons in China. For the 2026–2027 season, opening is expected in mid-to-late November 2026.
Seasonal Conditions at a Glance
Period | Conditions | Best For |
November–December | Fresh early powder, fewer crowds, cold | Powder hunters, budget travelers |
January–February | Deepest snow base, coldest temps (-20°C or lower) | Serious skiers, peak powder |
March–April | Softer snow, longer sunny days, milder weather | Families, beginners, sightseeing combos |
Early May | Spring skiing, uncrowded slopes | Late-season trips with Kanas scenery |
Avoid if possible: the Chinese New Year holiday (late January or February), when holiday pricing applies and domestic crowds peak. Book at least 2–3 months ahead if traveling then.
From gentle learning slopes to Asia's longest descent, these are the runs and zones you should know about before clicking into your bindings.
At 11,176 meters long with a 1,340-meter vertical drop and a gentle maximum gradient of 13°, the Koktokay Run is the resort's signature cruiser. Intermediates can top-to-bottom this epic descent through larch forests with jaw-dropping views of the Altai Mountains.
The resort's namesake run drops 1,340 vertical meters over 5,328 meters, with pitches reaching 35 degrees. This is the line that puts hair on your chest—steep, long, and utterly satisfying for advanced skiers.
A 5,378-meter descent with 1,069 meters of vertical and a maximum gradient of 31°, finishing through the postcard-pretty Rose Valley. Challenging up top, dreamy at the bottom.
Six more signature runs each exceed 1,000 meters of vertical drop, ranging from groomed steeps to gladed terrain. You could ski a different big-mountain line every day of the week.
Jikepulin's 28 marked off-piste runs and more than 2,500 hectares of ungroomed terrain make it China's premier freeride destination. Aximaili Peak also hosts a dedicated ski mountaineering zone (maximum gradient 28°) for backcountry touring—one of the few of its kind in China. Always ski off-piste with a guide and avalanche safety equipment.
First-timers are well looked after in the West Zone's newly built beginner area, featuring wide gentle slopes and fully automatic magic carpet lifts. The forgiving powder snow here makes falling feel like landing in a cloud.
Even non-skiers should ride Cable Car No. 1—a 4,930-meter lift climbing 1,340 vertical meters to the summit of Yunxiao Peak (2,800 m). From the top, on a clear day, you can see into four countries at once: China, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia. Recent seasons have added a lift mid-station and a summit café, and the sunset views from the mountaintop Sunset Restaurant are worth the ride alone.
On-mountain service centers at 1,850 m (Wangyuntai), 2,150 m (Feiyuntai), and 2,450 m (Guanyuntai) provide food, coffee, and rest areas throughout the ski day.
A Jikepulin trip pairs perfectly with northern Xinjiang's winter wonders:
l Hemu Village (next door): One of only three remaining Tuva villages in China. Wooden cabins, horse-drawn sleighs, birch forests, and the famous Hemu sunrise viewpoint.
l Kanas Lake (about 70 km away): China's deepest glacial lake turns into a silent frozen fairyland in winter, with snow-laden "mushroom" drifts along the Three Bays.
l Baihaba Village: A border hamlet known as the "First Village of the Northwest," reachable with a border permit.
Most travelers combine 3–4 days of skiing at Jikepulin with 1–2 days exploring Hemu and Kanas for a complete Altay winter itinerary.
l Ski-in/ski-out: The Holiday Resort hotel near the East Zone service hall offers direct slope access through panoramic windows onto the runs.
l Hemu Village guesthouses: Traditional Tuva log cabins and boutique guesthouses with heated floors—authentic, atmospheric, and a short shuttle ride from the slopes.
l Hemu Mountain Lodge: Log-cabin style accommodation with a well-regarded Xinjiang restaurant serving cold-water fish and local hotpot.
1. Book transfers in advance. Public transport to Hemu in winter is limited; pre-arranged private transfers are the reliable option.
2. Bring your passport for ticket purchase and hotel check-in.
3. Dress for -20°C. January temperatures can plunge, though the windless, dry cold is more comfortable than it sounds. Layer up.
4. Carry some cash and set up mobile payment (Alipay/WeChat Pay accept international cards) for on-mountain dining.
5. Rent locally. Rental gear is modern and affordable (see prices above), so there's no need to haul skis across China.
6. Hire a guide for off-piste. The freeride terrain is vast and avalanche awareness is essential.
7. Travel insurance with winter sports coverage is strongly recommended.
Quick answers to the questions foreign skiers ask us most often about Jikepulin.
Yes. The dedicated West Zone beginner area with magic carpets and gentle slopes is ideal for first-timers, and full-day beginner lift tickets with equipment cost only CNY 320–420. The soft powder snow is forgiving for learning.
Jikepulin has the largest vertical drop in China (1,466 m), the longest run in Asia (11.2 km), and far deeper natural powder than resorts near Beijing. It is consistently ranked among China's top 10 ski resorts and was named a national ski tourism resort.
Opening is expected in mid-to-late November 2026, with the season running through May 2027. Exact opening dates depend on snowfall and are announced on the resort's official channels.
Absolutely. Hemu Village is right next to the resort, and Kanas Lake is about 70 km away. A 5–7 day trip comfortably covers skiing plus both villages.
On-mountain signage is primarily in Chinese, and English is limited outside hotels. Traveling with an English-speaking local operator makes the trip significantly smoother.
As a local Xinjiang travel agency based in Urumqi, Xinjiang Travel specializes in tailor-made ski and winter tours across Altay—including Jikepulin ski packages, private 4WD transfers, Hemu and Kanas winter tours, English-speaking guides, and hotel bookings at every budget.
Ready to ski China's deepest powder?
l Email: info@xinjiangtravel.org
l WhatsApp: +86 189 9923 3079
