February 5, 2024
BEIJING – As night falls in Tekes county in Ili Kazak autonomous prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Jiugongcheng Park transforms into a fantastic ice and snow world, with its traditional folk street, parade of decorated floats and boutique guesthouses attracting numerous visitors. With winter sports gaining momentum across China, Xinjiang is leveraging its prolonged winter, high-quality snow and diverse terrains to establish top-notch ski resorts.
Two major ice and snow tourism belts have emerged along the Tianshan and Altay mountain ranges, and Xinjiang currently boasts 188 ice and snow venues, including 101 ski resorts.
The Keketuohai International Ski Resort in Altay prefecture offers a snow season lasting more than 200 days, making it a paradise for many skiers. A traditional folk event, the Winter Harvest Festival, is in full swing in Fuyun county, Altay, featuring exciting traditional ethnic sports such as “sheep dragging on snow”, which elicits cheers from onlookers.
For several consecutive years, Xinjiang has hosted various ice and snow festivals such as the Urumqi Silk Road Ice and Snow Festival, the Winter Fishing Festival at Lake Ulungur, and the Ice and Snow Festival in Bohu county. These events further integrate ice and snow tourism with folk culture, enriching the variety of winter tourism activities.