If you feel the ski bug when you are in Beijing, know that the mountains are only about an hour away. So it's always possible to slip into a pair of boots, and drive there in a hurry to try the slopes.

But rent of buy? I personally prefer to buy my equipment, and if you're like me, here is the retailer you need: Aishanqing, north on Madian East Rd, middle North 3^rd Ring Rd, Haidian district, Beijing.

Aishanqing translates as ‘Love the Feel of the Mountains’, and carries everything you need for your trip to the Beijing mountains.

When you enter the shop, ski clothes and hats are on your left hand, ski goggles on the shelves in the middle, and ski shoes/boards towards the back.

The shop recommends Wing, a Korean brand made in China, at Qingdao. Wing has a good reputation in China, and its production is priced at reasonable levels. A pair of yellow Wing ski glasses in thermoplastic polyurethane sells for 460 yuans. 

Other price samples: ski apparel, from 300 to 1000 yuans; ski equipment, 1000 to 3000 yuans; ski goggles, 300 to 600 yuans.

The shop assistants speak a little English, and they are open to bargaining.