Shanghai L+ Snow World Staycation Review 2025
A Mini Escape Without Leaving Shanghai
It has been a busy 2025, so I impulsively booked myself a staycation as a way to unwind after back-to-back tour days. If you’re also curious about Shanghai’s newest winter escape, I’m excited to share the experience.
I’ve skied a few times outdoors before and always wondered what indoor skiing would feel like. Surprisingly — it was much more fun than I expected, just shorter runs, less sun, no sunscreen and sunglasses required ;)
About Shanghai Snow World (Yaoxue BingXue Shijie 耀雪冰雪世界)
Grand-opened in September 2024, Snow World is part of a massive 350,000 m² resort complex in Lingang, featuring three hotels, a seasonal water park, and a full all-weather holiday destination.
Inside the main structure, real snow is maintained at around –5°C year-round. The resort features a snow play area for families, a full skiing zone, a full-size ice rink, retail streets, dining experiences, cable cars, sled runs, and indoor trains to ferry guests between slopes.
The indoor ski hall alone covers 90,000 m² — roughly the size of 12 football fields and 20 storeys high — with four slopes, beginner and intermediate runs, and over 20 snow activities.
✨ Fun fact: Snow World was certified by Guinness World Records as the world’s largest indoor ski resort on opening day — before being overtaken weeks later by Shenzhen’s Qianhai Indoor Ski Resort (100,000 m²), which opened in late 2024.
What I Booked & What It Cost
I went on an off-peak weekday (Wednesday–Thursday) and booked a Douyin package for only 1,388 RMB, which included:
One-night stay at Shanghai Snow World Hotel, Vignette Collection (IHG)
A room on 16/F with direct concierge access to the ski entrance
Full-day snow passes for 2 people including equipment rental (skis or snowboard, suit, helmet)
One hour of early private access directly from the hotel ski lobby
Hotel Breakfast for two
Day 1: A nice road trip, followed by amazing meals and relaxing time at Snow Play Area and hotel
The weather was perfect!
I left central Shanghai at 10:30am, had a smooth drive, arrived around noon, and checked into the room before 3pm.
For lunch, I visited the newly opened Canton 8 (喜粤8号) inside the resort — excellent Cantonese dishes and highly recommended. (Their branch in the city awarded 1 Michelin Star!
Since I didn’t plan to ski until the next morning, I paid 300 RMB per adult to enter the Snow Play area — ideal for non-skiers or families with young children. Just note:
• Some rides require 120cm minimum height
• Some have a 100kg maximum weight limit
I tried a few slides, stayed a couple of hours, then retreated to my cozy hotel room.
Feel free to check out the guide map on the official website.
Dinner was at the teppanyaki restaurant on the 18/F — only 398 RMB per person on Dianping, excellent quality, great service, and one of the highlights of the trip.
Later that night, I visited the bar on the 19/F — cocktails priced at 98-128 RMB, surprisingly good and a relaxing way to end the day.
Back at the room, I appreciated the smart TV setup, movie streaming, and yes — I always travel with an HDMI adaptor for my iPad, so movie night was sorted.
Day Two: Ski Day!
Breakfast (served 7am–10am) was impressively well executed — fresh Western and Asian options, and a satisfying start to the day.
After breakfast, I packed up, I checked out at the 16/F ski concierge, picked up my gear, and stepped straight onto the top of the slope.
Snow World features:
• A 60-metre vertical drop — roughly the height of a 20-storey building
• One gondola lift and one chairlift
• A lower bunny slope for beginners
• A private VIP base on 16F with dedicated lounge, lockers, toilets, and changing rooms separate from general guests
The resort flow is surprisingly efficient, and being able to ski straight from the hotel felt like such a perk.
Tips for visiting the Snow World
Bring passports — non-Mainland Chinese visitors are photographed for access validation
Check ticket types — by hour or full day, if equipment is required, holiday prices are higher >>Trip.com link
Snow play tickets and ski tickets are separate >>Trip.com link
Bring your own gloves, hats, scarf — not provided
Rental suits are optional, but dress warm if wearing your own clothes, the temperature is maintained at –5 to –10°C
Bring your own snow boots if you prefer — rental sizes max out at 47
A small strap bag and thermos are useful, suits has not pockets!
Hire a coach if it’s your first time skiing
Safety first — follow rules and consider insurance
Same-day return is possible, but tiring with long commute — a one-night stay is worth it
The Astronomy Museum Nearby attractions
After returning my gear, I said goodbye to Snow World and drove about 10 minutes (3.2 km) to visit the Shanghai Astronomy Museum.
Opened in 2021 and widely described as the world’s largest planetarium by building scale, it spans nearly 60,000 m² with immersive exhibits, domed theatres, live observatories, and beautifully choreographed educational spaces.
It is visually striking — all sweeping curves and futuristic architecture — and engaging even for non-science visitors. If you’re already nearby or planning a family weekend, it’s a worthwhile stop. I’ll let the photos speak for themselves, but it is another reminder of how Shanghai keeps reinventing learning spaces.
Next time, I’d also consider visiting Haichang Ocean Park, only 3–5 km from Snow World and the museum.
Final Thoguhts
This staycation was exactly what I needed — refreshing, fun, and surprisingly premium. The newly developed Lingang (临港) and Dishui Lake (滴水湖) areas feel futuristic and spacious, and indoor skiing exceeded my expectations.
The stay at the Vignette Collection hotel was a true highlight — thoughtful service, excellent dining, and direct ski access with one-hour early entry made the experience seamless.
Total spending for two people was under 3,600 RMB, including great meals, cocktails, snow play + skiing, and museum admission — good value for a high-quality winter escape.
If you’re thinking about trying a Shanghai staycation or want to know more about this area, feel free to message me on WhatsApp, email genie@genieyip.com, or share your own Snow World / Lingang experiences in the comments. I’d love to hear them.