Jikepulin sits beside Hemu village with what is described as China's biggest lift-served vertical and a deep, dry snowpack. Terrain, stays, transfers, who should go.
Jikepulin sits beside Hemu village, deep in the Kanas scenic area of the Altai Mountains in northern Xinjiang. It is the kind of place powder skiers talk about for years: a vertical drop described as the biggest in China, around 70 km of marked pistes, and Freeride World Tour qualifier events held there in February and December 2025. Getting there is half the trip.
Hemu is a log-cabin village inside the scenic area, and in winter it doubles as a small ski base. Guesthouses dominate, with a handful of larger hotels and plenty of places to eat hot food after a cold day. The resort opened in 2022 and is built around gondolas, which carry skiers from the base up to the high ridges.
Jikepulin's scale is the headline. Its lift-served vertical is well over 1,000 m, often described as the largest in China; published figures for the exact summit and vertical vary between sources, so we do not quote a single number. Around 10 lifts serve roughly 70 km of marked pistes. Our resort data grades the terrain at roughly half beginner and half intermediate, with no runs marked advanced. In other words, the groomed mountain is long and big rather than steep.
That matters for how you plan. The reputation for powder comes from the snow, not from steep marked runs. Anything beyond the marked pistes is ungroomed, unpatrolled backcountry terrain. The Altay authorities close avalanche-prone zones when the risk is high: on 5 January 2026 they shut all of Jikepulin's Lingyun Valley area, and entering closed terrain is punishable. Avalanche forecasting in China is less developed than in the Alps or Japan. Stay on open, marked terrain unless you are with a qualified local guide and carry full avalanche gear.
Snow is why people fly to Hemu. Altay is a long way from the sea and very cold in winter, so the snow that falls stays light and dry. Jikepulin opened on 10 November 2025 for the 2025-26 season. Snowmaking for 2026-27 began on 9 October 2026, but the opening day depends on the weather. Check our opening dates page before booking flights.
Midwinter is properly cold. Altay city averages a January low of about -21°C, and the upper mountain is colder and windier. Layer a thermal base, an insulated mid layer and a shell, and bring mittens, a balaclava and a helmet liner. Goggles with a low-light lens help on grey days.
Gondolas are the backbone of the lift system, which helps on the coldest mornings. Queues are usually manageable outside the New Year and Chinese New Year holidays, and outside the local school snow holiday in mid-December. Upper lifts can stop in strong wind, so check the resort's official channels before heading up.
A sensible day starts on the groomed runs while the light is good, with a long lunch break to warm up, and finishes before the late-afternoon cold sets in. If you have only a couple of days, spend the first one learning the layout of the marked pistes. If you want to ski beyond them, book a qualified local guide in advance and follow every closure.
Most visitors stay in Hemu village itself. Guesthouses make up most of the beds, from simple family-run rooms to more comfortable lodges, plus a smaller number of hotels. Some guesthouses run their own shuttle to Jikepulin, which takes about 10 to 15 minutes. Rooms fill quickly in January and February, and Chinese New Year 2027 falls on 6 February, one of the busiest weeks of the season. Payment is mostly by WeChat Pay and Alipay, so set them up before you travel.
Our where to stay in Altay guide compares the bases in more detail.
| Lodging type | What to expect | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Village guesthouse | Simple rooms, often family-run; some offer a resort shuttle | Budget skiers, small groups |
| Larger lodge or hotel | More facilities, books out first at peak weeks | Couples, families |
| Altay city hotel | Many more choices, but a long daily drive | Combining Hemu with Jiangjunshan |
Prices swing widely between low season and the holiday weeks, so check current rates on the booking platforms or the resort's official channels rather than relying on old figures.
The nearest airports are Kanas (KJI), 82 km from Jikepulin, and Altay Xuedu (AAT) in Altay city. Allow 3 to 4 hours by road from either airport to Hemu. There is no rail station at Hemu. Private cars cannot enter the village: you park at the scenic-area ticket station and take the scenic-area bus in. In 2025-26 that bus ran on timed reservations in winter, and free luggage storage points operated at Jiadengyu, Kanas and Hemu, so pack light.
The Ahe Highway (G681) links Altay city and Hemu: 209 km, opened on 30 June 2025, with a high point near 3,000 m. It takes about 3 to 3.5 hours without stops. Avoid driving it at night. Sharp bends, ice and signal gaps make it much harder after dark, and snow can close the road for hours. Our Altay powder guide explains the route in more detail.
Practical tips for getting to Hemu:
Lift tickets sell by the day, with multi-day options. We could not confirm 2026-27 prices, so check the resort's official channels before you go. WeChat Pay and Alipay are the norm at the counter. Bring your passport when you buy tickets.
Rental gear is available at the base. If you have very wide feet or large boot sizes, bring your own boots. Helmets are strongly recommended.
Jikepulin suits confident intermediates who want long runs, a lot of vertical and dry snow, and who do not mind a long journey. The marked terrain is graded beginner and intermediate, so beginners can ski here too, but the cost and time of getting to Hemu are hard to justify for a first ski trip. Advanced skiers should come for the snow and the scale, not for steep marked runs, and should treat anything beyond the pistes as guided-only terrain.
If you want the biggest vertical in China and don't mind flights and a long transfer, Jikepulin is the pick. For an easier trip, Koktokay or Jiangjunshan in Altay city, or the Chongli resorts near Beijing, are simpler. Our Altay hub compares the alternatives.
Visas: Xinjiang sits outside the 240-hour visa-free transit scheme. Check whether your passport qualifies for 30-day visa-free entry (valid until 31 December 2026 unless renewed) or get a visa in advance. Carry your passport at all times. Our China travel essentials page has the latest rules.
Avalanches and closures: stay out of closed terrain. If you go beyond the marked runs at all, do it only with a qualified local guide, a partner, and a transceiver, shovel and probe. Read our altitude and cold weather guide before you go.
Internet and payments: Google, WhatsApp and Instagram are blocked on Chinese SIMs and most Wi-Fi. Roaming, or an eSIM that routes outside China, is the simplest fix. Bring some yuan in cash as backup and set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card before flying.
Is Jikepulin's snow really that good? Yes. Altay is far from the sea and very cold in winter, so the snow stays light and dry, and the season runs from roughly November into spring.
How hard is it to get to? Harder than most Chinese resorts. Allow a full travel day: fly to Altay Xuedu (AAT) or Kanas (KJI), often via Urumqi, then 3 to 4 hours by road to Hemu.
Is it a good place for beginners? The marked runs are graded beginner and intermediate, but the cost of getting there is hard to justify for first-timers. Chongli or Jiangjunshan are simpler choices.
Should I hire a guide? Yes, for anything beyond the marked pistes. Off-piste terrain is closed when the avalanche risk is high, closures are enforced, and a qualified local guide knows which areas are open.