With summer taking up all 4 seasons in Singapore, it’s no wonder we flock to other countries to experience winter and its icy activities. China is well known for its indoor skiing facilities, boasting some of the biggest arenas. They’ve recently added another to the list with the opening of the largest indoor ski resort in the world, Wintastar Shanghai.
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Wintastar Shanghai is an indoor skiing-themed resort in Lingang city in the Pudong district. It is a 25-minute drive from the Shanghai Pudong International Airport. Getting to the resort is a relative breeze; hop on a 5.5-hour direct round-trip flight aboard China Eastern Airlines with tickets starting from S$349.
Spanning across a 90sqkm land area, Wintastar Shanghai takes the crown for the largest indoor ski resort in the world. The resort is part of China’s tourism industry project, especially seeing the increasing interest in the snow and ice industry after Beijing hosted the Winter Olympics in 2022.
Image credit: 吹 ccc via RED
It doesn’t stop at the ski park. Visitors can also enjoy other entertainment at Wintastar, such as retail and dining establishments, theatre performances and concerts, and even a Viking-themed water park.
Image credit: 抹茶味的夏天到了 via RED
A walk around the ski park entails the Nordic elements that inspired the dreamy, fantasy-like landscape. All of a sudden, you’re on holiday, celebrating an early Christmas in the Scandinavians.
Don’t bet on the ski park being like the air-conditioned spaces we’re used to. Cooling machines maintain the temperature at -3 to -5 degrees Celsius, and the floors are covered in pillowy artificial snow to mimic the look and feel of the real deal.
Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned pro, skiing is easy and accessible for everyone here. There are 4 ski slopes of increasing difficulty levels for beginners to advanced skiers.
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The beginner-friendly track is a 60m slope with an 8-degree incline, which is great for absolute newbies. Instructors are also on hand to guide and coach you through the basics of the sport.
Skiing and snowboarding equipment, such as boots, jackets, skis, and helmets, is also available for rent, so there’s nothing to worry about if you’re not decked out in the necessary attire for the park.
Image credit: 瑶饱饱 via RED
There are intermediate, advanced, and S-shaped ramps for those up for a challenge. The 340m advanced slope is said to be the hardest lane, with an inclination of a staggering 26 degrees.
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If you’re not one for the adrenaline, plenty of other entertainment is still to be found at the park. There are over 20 snow-themed attractions for visitors to explore. The Snow Mountain exhibition is perfect for families with young kids. There are slides where you get to slide down a bed of ice on a tyre and even a zipline where you can get a bird’s eye view of the park.
Image credit: Shiyi 十壹 via RED
Hop on the country’s first domestic indoor snow train cruising through the park.
If you’re planning a stay at Wintastar, there are 3 hotels with over 1,000 winter-themed guest rooms near the park. 17 unique ski suites offer convenience, as guests can use cable cars to access the ski park directly from their rooms.
Traditional outdoor ski zones have been affected by rising temperatures, and many are turning to indoor arenas to fulfil their icy passions instead. Tickets to the snow world are starting from S$40.13/pax for a 4-hour play or if you’re visiting purely to ski, tickets are from S$76.61/pax for 4 hours of ski time.
For more things to do in China:
Cover image adapted from: 抹茶味的夏天到了 & iiiiiiiris 呵 via RED
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