When Nagano hosted the Winter Olympics in 1998, Asia finally came of age as a real destination for snow junkies. Ten years on, CW rounds up Asia’s top spots to shred some powder.

Best for Families

Xiling, Sichuan
US$1,000/Week
Thrill factor: Low
Named after a poem by Tang Dynasty poet Dufu, Xiling Mountain, located in the so-called “Oriental Alps” near Chengdu, is considered to have the best skiing in western China. Judged by international standards, the mountain isn’t going to set any records, but it’s great for families who are in the area to see the famous pandas. Home to many varieties of flora and fauna, the mountain has gorgeous natural scenery, including rapids and waterfalls and is only 22 km from the famous Huashuiwan hot springs.

CW Specifics: We head straight for Xiling's 2,000 meter trail, its longest run, for the most satisfying skiing. Be sure to take the 2,500 meter gondola from Riyueping to the resort for a stunning view of wintry Sichuan. Enjoying the snow-capped mountain isn’t exactly cheap, with ski passes running US$60-100 a day. Ski rental is available, but you’ll have to bring your own snowboard.
Stats: Seven trails, at least one lift and one cable car.
Get there: The resort is two hours from Chengdu.
Where to stay: The Azalea Holiday Hotel is the best at the resort, but many visitors choose to stay in the nearby Huashuiwan, where there are hot springs hotels from ¥100 per night.

Best in China

Yabuli, Heilongjiang
US$500/Weekend
Thrill factor: Medium
A royal hunting ground during the Qing dynasty, Yabuli, site of the Third Asian Winter Games and home of the Chinese Olympic ski team, is China’s premier ski town. Yabuli is not only the biggest and most developed ski resort in China, but also has the best snow. It’s also the best option for those who don’t have time to leave the country. The slopes are suitable for skiers of all levels, and include what the resort brags is the longest alpine ski run in Asia. Cross country skiers can also enjoy a 5 kilometer trail through the Heilongjiang pine forest.

CW Specifics: It costs around ¥300 for a whole day of skiing at Yabuli (you can also pay by the hour or buy a cheaper multi-day ticket), with an additional ¥100 for equipment rental (skis or snowboards). As is the case for all Asian ski resorts, those with feet sized 10 or larger might run into problems finding comfortable rental boots. The mountain is split into two sections, with a higher altitude designated a “competitive” area for more advanced skiers and a lower, easier “leisure” section for those who are not so daring. Make sure to also check out the German-made slide that runs from the top of the mountain.
Stats: 11 trails, five lifts.
Get there: Arrive in Harbin by plane or train and take a two hour train to Yabuli. From there, take a mini bus to the resort.
Where to stay: Windmill Villas at the base of the mountain offers cabins built like European windmills. ¥340 for a double room with higher rates on weekends.

Best for Snowboarding

Kijimadaira, Japan
US$1,500/Four Days
Thrill factor: Medium-High
Japan’s big ski boom came in the 1980’s, with snowboarding popular in the 1990's, especially when Nagano became the first competition venue for snowboarding as an Olympic sport in 1998. Japanese ski resorts, however, are notorious for discriminating against snowboarders, closing off trails and lifts, and even banning snowboarders completely. Kijimadaira is different. As one of the first resorts to open snowboarders, the slopes are covered with a 50-50 mix of skiers and snowboarders. Regularly listed by Japanese snowboarding magazines as the best resort, Kijimadaira is where the hippest Japanese go to get their snow on.

CW Specifics: Kijimadaira boasts three half pipes and two well-groomed terrain parks. Free-ride snowboarding is more limited, since the No. 3 lift to the summit is unfortunately off-limits to snowboarders. If Kijimadaira’s not enough, smaller Togari Onsen and massive Nozawa Onsen are only a hop, skip and (ski) jump away. After a long day on the mountain, relax in a hot spring, or “onsen,” an obligatory part of any Japanese ski trip.
Stats: 12 trails, 10 lifts.
Get there: From Tokyo, take a bullet train to Nagano, where you can transfer to the JR Liyama-sen train to Iiyama. The ski resort is a 30 minute bus ride from the station.
Where to stay: For a little luxury, stay at the Kijimadaira hot spring hotel, which has a number of outdoor baths and features beautiful, traditional architecture. One night’s stay, with two meals and a bottle of sake, runs just over US$100.

Best for Extreme

Kamchatka, Russia
US$10,000/Ten Days
Thrill factor: Scream
Ever wanted to ski down a 4,000 meter volcano? Then Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, a wild and virtually uninhabited land maintained as a restricted zone during the Soviet Union, is just the place. Heliskiing, where winter sports fanatics are choppered to the top of their run, is what Kamchatka is known for. With over 100 extinct and 29 active volcanoes on landmass the size of France, you needn’t worry about crowded slopes or man-made snow—just watch out for Siberian tigers!

CW Specifics: Moroznaya Hill, where the Russian Olympic ski team has trained for a decade, might be a good place to warm up if you don’t want your first run of the season to be off-piste heliskiing. When you do decide to hop on a chopper, though, it’s up to you where to go. Since helicopter rental can get very expensive (over US$1,000 for an hour-long trip in an 8-person helicopter) and some tours only accept large parties, we suggest traveling to Kamchatka with a group of friends.
Stats: Moroznaya Hill has five trails and a lot of virgin mountains.
Get there: Fly to Kamchatka's city of Petropavlovsk via Vladivostok or Irkutsk. Check out Vladivostok Air flights at www.vladavia.ru.
Where to stay: There are hotels in Petropavlovsk and in the resort town Paratunka, 60 km away, which cost around US$20 per night. Heliskiing tours usually run for one or two weeks, and will set you back several thousand dollars, including meals, guide, interpreter, transportation, accommodation and visa support. For more information, check out the following websites: www.kamchatka.org.ru; www.kamchatka-travel.ru; www.helipro.ru.

Best for Kimchee

Yongpyong, South Korea
US$1,500 | Four days
Thrill factor: Spicy
Yongpyong, the host of the 1998 World Ski Cup Championships and part of the Pyeong Chang region, which bid to host the 2014 Winter Olympics, was South Korea's first ski resort and is widely regarded as the best. There’s something for everyone at Yongpyong: snowboarders will enjoy the resort’s recently updated freestyle facilities, and cross country skiers can take advantage of 15 km of trails. If you’re not tired out after a day on the slopes, there's night skiing on eight trails, and when you're ready to come in from the cold, relax in the resort's sauna. Yongpyong also happens to be home to East Asia’s longest gondola, covering four km.

CW Specifics: Yongpyong only has a few advanced trails, but intermediate to advanced skiers might find themselves at an advantage, since lessons are very expensive, and the more difficult trails don’t attract the crowds. Like other resorts in Korea, snowboarding is focused on freestyling and terrain parks, and Yongpyong boasts two half-pipes and the Dragon Park, featuring a quarter-pipe, ramp, moguls, rail slides and more. There are great rental facilities, even clothes if you want, but they can get quite costly (US$25 for skis, US$38 for a snowboard, on top of the US$65 lift pass). Save money by getting equipment and clothes at the nearest town. If you’re traveling with the kids, make sure you take them to the resort’s sledding park.
Stats: 31 trails, 14 lifts, one gondola.
Get there: Yongpyong is located at Mt. Balwang, 200 km east of Seoul, one hour from the Yangyang International Airport.
Where to stay: As is standard for South Korea, most accommodation is located within the resort itself. The resort has three large hotels, the Dragon Valley Hotel being the nicest.

by Sienna Parulis-Cook

Snowboard Guru

Name: Steve Zdarsky
Profession: Mellow Constructions China CEO, Quiksilver Snow Project Manager, Speed Snowboard Art Director
Signature move: Switch backside double inverted backscratcher nosebonk 540
Board of choice: Nitro T1 with Burton CO2 bindings and a nice Quiksilver sticker placement
Favorite snowboard spot: Nokia Nanshan Mellow Park (www.mellowparks.cn) with its mini half-pipe; pro, medium and beginner kicker line; wallride; tons of boxes and rails. It's also home to the only international snowboard event in China, the Red Bull Nanshan Open.

Beijing is actually perfect for fake snow because it’s so dry the artificial snow feels like fresh powder in the Alps.

Win an amazing 10 time week pass to the Nokia Nanshan Mellow Park at: www.cityweekend.com.cn/nanshan