Rental gear at Chinese resorts varies from Chongli's big four to small day-trip hills. What rental costs, boot fitting, helmets, deposits and when to bring your own.
Every major Chongli resort, including Thaiwoo, Wanlong, Genting and Fulong, rents skis and snowboards at the base, and some sell lift tickets that include rental. Smaller day-trip hills rent gear too, but fleets and fitting help vary. Bring your own boots, gloves and base layers if you can, and rent the rest. Expect a deposit, and pay it by app or card rather than leaving your passport.
At a medium to large Chinese resort the standard package is skis or a snowboard, boots and, for skiers, poles. Rental counters usually sit in or beside the main ski service hall, where you also buy tickets and change; Fulong's hall, for example, is reported at 45,000 m². Whether a helmet is part of the package varies by resort and ticket type, so ask at the counter. Some resorts also rent jackets and trousers, usually from a separate counter or shop.
The clearest guide is the gap between lift-only and lift-plus-rental tickets that resorts publish:
Prices step up at weekends and peak again at New Year and the Spring Festival, and discounted tickets through the resorts' official channels were often well below rack rates. 2026-27 prices had not been published when we checked in October 2026, so check the resort's official channels before you book. Our budget guide puts these prices in USD.
The big Chongli resorts handle large numbers of rental customers and tend to keep fleets in reasonable condition, but quality varies between resorts and seasons, and beginner-heavy fleets see heavy use. At Beijing's day-trip hills such as Nanshan and Jundushan, expect a more basic experience on busy weekends. Whatever the resort, check the gear before you leave the counter: bindings should be set for your weight and ability, edges should not be badly damaged, and boots should buckle properly.
| Resort type | What to expect | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Big Chongli resorts (Thaiwoo, Genting, Wanlong, Fulong) | Large rental halls, packages with lift tickets at some resorts | Compare lift-only and lift-plus-rental prices |
| Other destination resorts | Rental at the base; quality varies | Ask about multi-day rental if you are staying several days |
| Beijing day-trip hills (Nanshan, Jundushan) | Busy weekends, more basic service | Arrive early and check the gear at the counter |
Ski boots are sized by Mondopoint, which is simply the length of your foot in centimetres; snowboard boots are often labelled in US, EU or Chinese shoe sizes as well. Measure your foot length in centimetres at home and write it down, so you can show the number at the counter rather than relying on a size conversion.
Two practical pitfalls:
If the first pair does not fit, ask to try another. A translation app helps you explain where the boot hurts.
Ask whether a helmet is included in your rental. If it is not, rent one or bring your own; we recommend a helmet for every skier and rider, especially children. Small children's helmets can be in short supply on busy mornings, so bring one from home if you have it.
Goggles are often sold rather than rented, so bring your own. Rented jackets and trousers are warm but not always waterproof, so bring a waterproof shell if you can. Use the China travel essentials page to set up Alipay or WeChat Pay before you need to pay rental fees or deposits by app.
For children, arrive early, before the lifts open, because small sizes can run out on weekend mornings. Booking a lesson through the resort's official channels before you go keeps the morning organised; ask whether rental can be reserved at the same time. If you need an English-speaking instructor, ask the ski school over WeChat or email well in advance, because availability is not guaranteed.
A half-day ticket with rental is a cheaper way for a first-timer to try skiing. Check whether your resort sells one, as packages differ between resorts.
Owning your own gear pays off when:
If you bring your own skis or board by train, check the current 12306 rules and book the snow-gear service where it is offered; gear over 200 cm in combined length, width and height must otherwise be checked as consigned baggage.
If you tick none of the boxes, renting at a big resort is the simple option. One more point: stay on marked, open pistes, whatever gear you have. We do not recommend going off-piste without a qualified local guide.
Expect a deposit on rented gear. At Thaiwoo in 2025-26 it was 2,000 yuan, and deposits elsewhere vary. Pay it by Alipay, WeChat Pay or card where accepted, and do not leave your passport as a deposit: you need it for trains and hotels, and losing it would end your trip. Keep the receipt, return the gear on time and check it together with the staff. Damage or loss is charged, so check the condition of the gear when you collect it and point out any existing damage.