The name is apt: Entering into Secret Garden, an integrated ski resort in sleepy Chongli county, opens up a whole new world of relaxation. Valerie Ng explains why it is worth the three-hour drive from Beijing.

The road leading to Secret Garden feels familiar. From the rural landscape to the names on the signboards - such as Tiger Mouth and Gohtong Avenue - approaching the holiday getaway reminds me, a Malaysian, of Genting Highlands Resort back home.

Gohtong is the name of the late founder of Genting Malaysia, the parent company of Secret Garden Resort. Lim Goh Tong, a native of Fujian province, migrated to Malaya (now Malaysia) in 1937 and made a name for himself as a visionary entrepreneur.

An ambitious project jointly developed with VXL Group, Secret Garden is the latest addition to the tourism landscape of Chongli county in Zhangjiakou, Hebei province.

Once fully completed in the coming decade, it is projected to be the country's largest tourism project in terms of size, investment and variety of attractions.

Spread across 100 sq km, the Secret Garden area will also house a theme park, a traditional Chinese medicine hub and a sports village. There are complementary components, such as hotels and a European-style resort town, art galleries, food and beverages as well as retail outlets.

Surrounded by the Dama Mountains where the Taihang and Yanshan ranges meet, the resort is blanketed with natural snow at least four months a year, becoming a natural alpine sanctuary.

Come summer, the year-round resort records a comfortable and refreshing average temperature of 19 C, suitable for all sorts of outdoor activities.

It takes an avid skier to see the potential of a venue. VXL group executive chairman Lim Chee Wah, the third son of Lim Goh Tong, is an enthusiastic skier himself.

"I was introduced to skiing about 30 years ago in Vail, Colorado, and I've been hooked ever since," says Lim, who travels all over the world to satisfy his "addiction" to the winter sport.

In 1996, he arrived in Chongli and immediately saw the potential. But, a conservative entrepreneur, Lim waited for "the right time" to develop the retreat venue and work started three years ago.

Secret Garden marries cutting-edge design concepts from some internationally renowned ski resorts in North America, the United Kingdom and Australia.

It will introduce the world trend of "apres ski" into China. The trend is about skiing and having a good holiday at the same place, where there will be after-hour parties and all kinds of shows and recreational activities.

It is also one of the few resorts with a "ski-in, ski-out" concept, which literally means the moment you get out of bed, you can put on your gear and start skiing. And, when you are tired or hungry, you can ski into a hotel or restaurant.

Since December 2012, 30 out of the planned 87 ski routes with a variety of terrains have been opened. There are trails that will excite ardent skiers, and there are simpler ones for the novices.

And fear not, those who have never skied: Professional instructors will guide you down your first slope. There is a children-specific snow garden equipped with special skiing facilities and coaches.

Secret Garden also has one of the most advanced high-speed ski lifts in the world, with heated seats, and tourists can shuttle among the different skiing routes easily.

Once completed, there will be 22 ski lifts plying the resort, with a total daily capacity of 18,000 skiers - comforting news since at some resorts the time spent waiting to get on a ski lift is longer than the skiing. The vastness of the area also means that slopes are unlikely to be overcrowded.

Apart from attracting urbanites looking for a place to retreat, Secret Garden is really designed for families.

Every room in the 265-room five-star Genting Grand hotel is equipped with cooking facilities and two toilets. The ambience is a glow of warm tones of wood, and each room can accommodate four to six people. The hotel also has 60 special suites that are surrounded by an outdoor spa pool.

At Secret Garden, your holiday starts upon walking into Genting Grand hotel, which has a playground-like lobby with video games, foosball, billiard tables and a soft play area for young children.

Eight restaurants have been planned in the hotel and on top of the mountain to cater to every gastronomical demand.

Although only the ski resort and a hotel are currently open, it is worth the three-hour ride to escape from the hustle and bustle and polluted Beijing for some fresh air and to recharge.

For those who like to mix business with pleasure, the Genting Grand is also equipped with banquet and conference facilities.

Contact the writer at valerie@chinadaily.com.cn.

(China Daily 02/07/2013 page19)