Beidahu National Leisure Mountain Trail (Yongji, Jilin City)

The Beidahu National Leisure Hiking Trail (北大湖国家休闲登山步道) is a mountain route in Beidahu Town, Yongji County, Jilin City, about 56 km from Jilin City and a day trip from Changchun in Jilin Province, China. The trail is associated with the Beidahu ski resort, whose slopes rise from a base of about 537 m to a summit of about 1,357 m, giving roughly 800 m of vertical gain. Trail length was not found in published sources, so distances depend on the route chosen; the climb to the top is a sustained uphill effort that fits the hard category more than the leisure label suggests. Access from Changchun is by train to Jilin City (about 30-60 minutes), then a taxi or chartered car of roughly one hour to the resort. Guesthouses about 500 m from the slopes are reported for overnight stays, which makes a two-day trip easier. Visitors should arrange the return ride before setting out, since public transport back from the resort area is limited. Surfaces are a mix of forest dirt path, ski-run grass and gravel service tracks. Lower sections are shaded by forest, while ski slopes near the top are open and exposed to wind and sudden weather changes, so the upper mountain can be cold even in summer. Landmarks include the resort base area, the ski runs and the summit viewpoint, and the base or mid-slope lifts and buildings form natural turn-around points if weather turns. Water is available at the base area, but not reliably on the climb, so hikers should carry enough. There are no mountain huts on the trail; shelter is found at the base buildings. A full day is needed including the transfer, and an early start leaves time to descend in daylight. The best months are June to September, while the same slopes become a ski area from late November.