When I saw that Beidahu was opening for its very first summer season, and that the weather there was much cooler than in the city, I thought it would be a perfect summer getaway. I also happened to see that our GO friends Jacky and Yulia were there, so the trip quickly came together. This time, we also brought four elderly family members with us.
While making the reservation, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Beidahu was offering a very special summer program: the Ed Stafford Survival Camp. It sounded interesting right away, so we booked it as part of our stay.
Transportation: Getting to the resort is not especially convenient, as it is still quite a long way from the airport. I would recommend taking the high-speed train from the airport to Jilin Station, then taking a taxi from there. There is a local taxi team that specializes in transfers to Beidahu, and the fare from Jilin Station to the resort is about RMB 100.
As soon as we arrived, we met our good friend Jacky, the warm and welcoming front desk GOs, and Village Chief Tatiana. After settling in, we went straight to the restaurant for lunch with Jacky, who gave us a general introduction to the village and recommended some of the activities worth trying.
That afternoon, the two-day survival camp happened to begin, and it turned out to be one of the highlights of the trip.
On the first day, despite the heavy rain, we learned several ways to set up tarps and tents, as well as the uses and techniques of different knots. The second day was even more fun. We headed into the woods and had to build a wilderness shelter from scratch. We also learned how to make a fire, filter dirty water, navigate outdoors, find food, and even try eating insects.
It may sound quite hardcore, but in reality it was very suitable for children. Each group had around six or seven people, so everyone could work together and the activities were not too exhausting. By the end, seeing the shelter we had built ourselves gave everyone a real sense of achievement. Our instructor, Coach Wang, was very professional and explained everything clearly and patiently.
Besides the survival camp, we also joined Nordic walking, fitness dance, mountain karting, and the trampoline park. Before coming, I had wondered whether there would be enough to do during the summer season. After arriving, I realized that four days were nowhere near enough to try everything.
We were also lucky that there was a show every evening during our three-night stay, and each one was enjoyable. The elderly members of our family especially loved the Beidahu variety show, and Jacky’s acrobatic performance was their favorite.
One evening, there was an unexpected local power outage. Tatiana quickly arranged a glow-in-the-dark show that did not require electricity, which kept everyone entertained and made the half-hour outage pass very smoothly. Later that evening, she also sang live herself, and her singing was genuinely at a professional level.
There were plenty of activities for children after the evening shows as well, which meant the adults could finally relax and enjoy drinks and conversations at the bar. Maulana, Liam, and Jerry from the bar team were all very good at listening to guests’ preferences and creating cocktails accordingly. Everything they made suited our taste very well. I especially recommend Liam’s signature cocktail, “Beidahu Rime.”
We also had a wonderful time chatting in the evenings with Vanessa, Jacky, Graicie, King, Yori, Isabella, and Joyboy. Those conversations and personal connections are always such an important part of the Club Med experience.
The holiday passed far too quickly. What started as a simple summer escape turned into a trip full of great activities, memorable moments, and warm interactions. The children, adults, and elderly family members all found something they enjoyed.
I really hope Beidahu opens again next summer. We would definitely love to come back.
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