Yabuli Club Med Ski Family Trip
It's almost the end of the year. Last year I promised to take Allen to learn skiing but couldn't make it. So this winter, when we can't go abroad, because of our longstanding trust in Club Med's Mini Club, I decisively chose the famous Yabuli Club Med in China. We handed him over to the G.O teachers to learn skiing and pick up a new skill! Kiki and I could also be hands-off and relax, enjoying our vacation without burden.
1. Harbin Airport to Yabuli Club Med (direct, official airport transfer 88 RMB/person, free for children under 3)
2. Harbin Airport - Harbin Railway Station - Yabuli Railway Station - Club Med
3. Mudanjiang Airport - Club Med (official transfer 370 RMB/person)
Yabuli Club Med Resort is composed of three peaks of the Zhangguangcai Range in the Changbai Mountains: the main peak Daguoguishan at 1374.8 meters, Erguoguishan at 1258 meters, and Sanguoguishan at 1000 meters. As a 4A-level scenic area, the scenery is naturally stunning.
It is also a training base for China's Antarctic expeditions. It has the largest ski resort in China with a total of 49 ski trails, spanning 50.8 kilometers. Whether you are a beginner or expert, into competitive skiing or recreational skiing, this place is suitable.
Yabuli Club Med's all-inclusive service is convenient and cost-effective, definitely my top choice as a thrifty mom! The children's daycare service also saved me and my husband a lot of worry. At night, there are various activities and performance parties, so you never get bored. Yabuli Club Med is truly a blessing for family vacations.
Tip: The earlier you book the resort and the more nights you stay, the bigger the discount.
Due to the cold climate, children aged 0-2 cannot stay at the resort.
We stayed in a family room at Yabuli Club Med with three beds and two bathrooms, accommodating up to 5 people. The hotel also offers snow view rooms, corner suites, standard double rooms, and more. There are plenty of room choices. Coming to northern China, you don't have to worry about the room being colder than outside. As a friend from the south, I have to say heating is really comfortable.
The room also has a humidifier, so your skin won't get dry. The bathroom is large with underfloor heating, and facilities are complete. Drinks and snacks are free! You can also request children's supplies and bedding in advance. Very thoughtful.
Note: For environmental reasons, the room does not provide toothbrushes, toothpaste, or other toiletries, but you can get them at the front desk.
As an experienced mom, I strongly recommend the Mini Club children's daycare service!
Like most families, we chose Club Med for our child because of this service. Taking care of kids every day is exhausting. As a mom, I always carry heavy bags when going out with my child and have to watch them constantly. Sometimes I feel that traveling is more tiring than staying at home. But here, it's different.
At Club Med, children aged 2 and above can be enrolled in daycare. Children aged 2-3 require a separate fee, while children aged 4-11 are free. Club Med has dedicated staff called G.O, which stands for 'Gentle Organizer.' The Mini Club kids' daycare groups kids based on age and skiing experience into different levels like Little Chick, Little Bear, etc. These names are really cute.
Parents just need to drop off their kids at the Mini Club between 8-9 am. The G.O takes full care of the kids, including taking them to a dedicated kids' dining area for meals, playing games, learning to ski, drawing, baking cookies and cakes, doing various activities, as well as nap time and rehearsing performances. Every week there is a stage show just for the kids, where parents can watch their children perform with the G.O. It's really fun.
This also helps children develop a sense of community and learn new skills, while parents can relax and enjoy their vacation at Club Med. (Remember to pick up your child before 5 pm.) Kiki and I were very reassured. After dropping off our child, we enjoyed our free time.
Whether you are a beginner or an expert, as long as you stay at Club Med, you can enjoy different skiing pleasures at Yabuli. The all-inclusive Club Med covers all skiing costs for guests (including ski suit, ski boots, skis, poles, gloves, helmet, ski pass, and instructor fees). It's very convenient for families like ours with luggage. You can also bring your own gear. There is a small shop at the ski equipment center where you can buy what you need, such as the adorable ski fall-protection turtle cushion.
Club Med's group ski lessons are free. You need to book one day in advance from 18:00 to 20:00 at the hotel's 1st floor. Group lessons are divided into small classes based on skill level, with a maximum of about a dozen students per class. Of course, the higher your level, the smaller the class. If you want a private instructor, that's also possible—one-on-one instruction helps you learn faster.
After registering, you can relax. The next day at 9:45 am and 1:45 pm, instructors wait at the Club Med exit under signs for different levels, ready for the day's learning. The instructors hold graduation certificates from the French National Ski School, and some are even skiing champions. Learning from them, you won't fail.
Yabuli Ski Resort is currently the largest and most well-equipped ski resort in China. There are three practice areas, located at the base, halfway up the mountain, and at the top, which effectively accommodates the large number of beginners. It's definitely my top choice as a skiing newbie.
The practice trails halfway up and at the top require scanning your ski pass and taking a cable car. Each cable car holds 8 people, with heated seats, so they aren't cold.
The snow on the trails at Yabuli is a bit hard. I recommend beginners wear knee pads, hip pads, and wrist guards to avoid too much pain when falling (good advice from experienced skiers). But learning to ski here will definitely improve your technique.
If you don't want to ski, you can still use your ski pass to take the cable car up to enjoy the scenery (only for hotel guests; if you're just here to ski, you need to pay extra for the cable car). After all, it's a 4A-level scenic area, so the views are great. If I had more time, I would have loved to check it out.
Attention to those who want a set of limited-edition cool ski photos! Club Med has photographers stationed at various locations throughout the day to take pictures of guests. If you want beautiful or cool photos, remember to choose colorful and flashy ski suits for the best results. Near the lesson booking area, there is a photo selection area where you can find your photos. They cost about 50 RMB each, or you can buy a package for 388 RMB for all photos of one person—pretty good value compared to outside studios.
For foodies, delicious food is a must!
Yabuli Club Med offers a wide variety of cuisine. The hotel has two restaurants: the Apple Garden Restaurant and the Peony Hotpot Restaurant, plus a Forest Bar. All are very tasty.
The Apple Garden Restaurant is the hotel's only buffet restaurant, serving three meals a day.
Daily limited Western dishes, plus Chinese and Asian cuisine, with different menus each day. Since it's a buffet, everyone, regardless of age or taste, can find something they like. Even the pickiest kids can find their favorites.
The Peony Hotpot Restaurant serves hotpot. In cold weather, a hotpot is essential for warmth, but due to limited seating, you need to book in advance (remember!). There are also late-night snacks.
For those who enjoy bars and good drinks, the Forest Bar is perfect. It offers free drinks and premium alcohol throughout the day. From 16:00 to 18:00 daily, you can also enjoy an exquisite afternoon tea with your loved one.
The Forest Bar has a stage where different activities are held at various times each day, such as Mini Club children's award ceremonies, evening performances, glow-in-the-dark painting, handicraft workshops, etc. For fun nightlife, this is the place.
On the hotel's second floor, there is a gym, an indoor heated swimming pool, and an outdoor hot spring pool (bring your own swimsuit). It's great to go for a run in the morning or soak in the hot spring while enjoying the snow view in the evening.
Of course, no resort is complete without a SPA! Vacation is about slowing down and relaxing. The hotel's SPA is co-branded with the Israeli brand AHAVA. You can choose to use AHAVA products for your SPA or buy their products. Beauty-loving sisters can come and enjoy (the SPA is an extra charge).
Guests staying at Club Med know that from the moment you check in, every day is full of excitement. Every night, the Forest Bar and the Circus Theater host various performances. The two nights we stayed were also non-stop fun. We happened to catch the Rift Show glow-in-the-dark party and Lifestyle Concept Night, allowing both adults and children to participate and join the Club Med family.
I recommend the Rift Show, a Club Med original performance with full lighting and stage effects, dreamy and surreal. The audience follows a robot's footsteps to explore deep-sea fluorescent marine life and underwater crustal movements—a great visual impact! Allen especially loved the glowing robot.
The most anticipated was Lifestyle Concept Night, where little Allen's performance on stage amazed us. He's usually not a dancing kid at home. I was so pleasantly surprised as a mom—I instantly became his little fan and cheered for him!
The Forest Bar hosts different activities every day, each as lively as a rave. Today it's a glow party, tomorrow a music and movie night, the day after a carnival party—truly diverse. The staff dress in different colors each day for themed activities. Even if you don't ski, coming to Yabuli Club Med is absolutely worthwhile.
Here, everyone seems determined to party until late night. It feels like a return to the age of 18. This winter, hurry up and bring your family to Yabuli Club Med for a different kind of wonderful winter time.
Travelogue Index:
1. Preface
2. Transportation
3. Yabuli Club Med Resort
4. Hotel Rooms
5. Mini Club Children's Daycare Service
6. Skiing
7. Food
8. Hotel Recreation and Relaxation
