Fast Track to the Slopes
A new high-speed rail policy allows Beijing skiers to carry equipment on board, turning spontaneous Chongli trips into effortless weekly rituals, Zhang Yu reports in Shijiazhuang.
▲Professional ski events and user-friendly facilities are drawing an increasing number of visitors to Chongli district, Zhangjiakou city, Hebei province, which cohosted the 2022 Winter Olympic Games with Beijing. LI XIAONING/FOR CHINA DAILY
On Friday evenings this winter, a quiet transformation unfolds at several railway stations across Beijing. Amid the usual tide of commuters heading home, another group stands apart — identifiable by long, padded equipment bags slung over shoulders or wheeled briskly across polished floors. These travelers are not heading home to rest.
They are skiers heading for Chongli district in Zhangjiakou, Hebei province — a popular destination since it cohosted the 2022 Winter Olympic Games with Beijing. Now, their journey has become much easier thanks to a new policy.
"I finish work, grab my gear, and head straight to the station. It's much simpler now," says Yin Peng, 36, a Beijing office worker whose eyes light up at the thought of his regular weekend escape.
He booked a high-speed train ticket departing at 7:06 pm from Qinghe Railway Station in Beijing's Haidian district, arriving at Chongli Railway Station in just over an hour.
"When you book the ticket through the railway's 12306 app, you can see the train number marked with the Chinese character xue, or snow. It means you can bring your ski gear on board with you," Yin explains.
With his snowboard bag, he represents a new wave of winter sports enthusiasts empowered by a new railway service — the "Ski Equipment Convenience Service".
Launched on Dec 7 last year and expanded on Jan 15 to include additional train types, this service operates on the Beijing-Zhangjiakou high-speed rail line. For 68 yuan ($9.84) per set, passengers can store skis or snowboards in specially adapted areas inside the train, according to China Railway Beijing Group.
The service currently covers eight stations — Beijing North, Qinghe, and Badaling Great Wall stations in the capital, as well as Donghuayuan North, Huailai, Xiahuayuan North, Taizicheng, and Chongli stations in Zhangjiakou.
Passengers can book the service through the 12306 app. Ski gear with a combined length, width, and height of up to 200 centimeters is accepted, and a digital invoice can be issued online within 180 days of travel.
▲A Beijing North Railway Station staff member checks the ticket of a passenger carrying skiing gear. GENG JIN/FOR CHINA DAILY
It's a simple change but with significant impact. The service has smoothed the path from city to mountain, capturing the soaring enthusiasm for skiing in post-Olympic China.
But the journey wasn't always this easy. Previously, oversized sports equipment had to be checked separately or mailed — processes skiers like Wang Yang, 39, found too cumbersome.
"Driving was just easier," he says, though he acknowledges the new rail option is a great choice for those wanting their own gear without the inconvenience of a car.
The railway's move directly tackles this pain point. "The decision to expand the service to D-series trains was driven by clear demand," explains Guo Ying, a guide from Beijing North Railway Station's passenger service department.
Following the successful pilot on eight G-series bullet trains, which served over 1,900 sets of equipment in just over a month, the expansion to more affordable and frequent D-series trains was a natural step.
"Many weekend travelers opt for these trains. Their demand for bringing gear along is equally strong," Guo adds.
Implementing the expansion required practical innovation. Unlike the G-series trains with retrofitted fixed storage spaces, some D-series train models had different interior layouts, according to Guo. Engineers devised flexible solutions, including seat protectors and secure fixtures that allow equipment to be safely stored without sacrificing passenger capacity.
Stations have also adapted. Dedicated lanes for skiers have been marked, and staff members guide passengers through verification procedures to ensure smooth boarding.
Song Leipeng, a passenger service attendant at the station, has observed both efficiency gains and lighter moments.
▲Another staff member places a verification sticker on a bag of ski equipment in December. GENG JIN/FOR CHINA DAILY
"Some travelers try to sneak two pairs of skis into one bag," he says with a chuckle. "Others keep the verification stickers as souvenirs. It adds a bit of fun."
Since the Jan 15 expansion, demand has surged. In just the first nine days (through Jan 23), 2,425 sets of equipment were accommodated via the service at Beijing North Railway Station, demonstrating its key role in facilitating seamless ski trips, Guo says.
Beyond station platforms, the ripple effects are increasingly visible. For ski destinations in Chongli, home to several 2022 Winter Olympics venues, this service is a driver behind the growing number of skiers.
"It's absolutely a core feature in our tour packages now," says Fan Xuewen, head of the Burning Snow Four Seasons club. The service eliminates one of the biggest logistical hurdles in organizing group trips.
"High-speed rail ski tours", once aspirational, have become a dependable product.
"It's also a key that unlocks premium clients from across China," Fan adds. His club now collaborates with southern counterparts to offer fly-to-Beijing, high-speed-rail-to-slopes packages, making it feasible for skiers from warmer provinces to bring their prized equipment with ease.
Still, there is room for refinement. "While we can book group tickets, each member still has to reserve the equipment service individually on the 12306 app," he says. "We really hope for a group bulk-booking function in the future, where the leader can submit everyone's information at once. A bulk-booking option would significantly improve efficiency."
At Fulong Ski Resort in Chongli, management is witnessing structural shifts in visitor behavior.
"We see two 'increases' and one extension," says deputy general manager Zou Zhongqiao. "More non-driving visitors arriving by train, more guests staying overnight, and longer average stays which translate directly into higher spending across hotels, restaurants and retail outlets."
The influx isn't just domestic. Zou points to a visible increase in international visitors, particularly from Southeast Asia, partly crediting China's expanded visa exemption policies for the region.
"From Nov 7 to 26 this season, we've registered over 300 foreign guests. You can see the difference on the slopes," he says, adding that the train service fits perfectly with this trend, offering a seamless, easier travel experience for those who prefer carrying their own gear.
▲Another staff member places a verification sticker on a bag of ski equipment in December. GENG JIN/FOR CHINA DAILY
The "Ski Train" is more than a simple change. It's an integral piece of China's post-Olympic winter sports economy, supporting sustained engagement after the country realized its ambitious goal of engaging 300 million people in winter sports — a drive catalyzed by the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.
For local authorities, it's about building an integrated ecosystem. "Its significance goes far beyond a transport service. It's a vivid practice of transforming Olympic heritage into development momentum," says Han Xiaoyu, deputy director of Chongli district's culture, broadcasting and TV, tourism and sports bureau.
The government is working to weave high-speed rail, lodging, skiing, and dining into a smooth "ski ecosystem", with plans for integrated digital platforms and service standards to create a seamless "One-Tripto-Chongli" experience.
The train service also offers a tangible alternative to driving, directly addressing chronic weekend traffic jams and packed parking lots that once plagued ski resorts.
"The effect is immediate," says Zou of Fulong Ski Resort. "This season, parking pressure and road congestion have significantly eased." It's a step toward a greener model for tourism, he says.
"This train carries the growing passion for winter sports," Zou says, adding that since the 2022 Winter Olympic Games were held in Chongli, skier numbers have risen steadily year after year.