Ice and snow sports attract tourists to Xinjiang

Tourists pose for photos in Urumqi, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Jan. 27, 2025. In recent years, with the abundant ice and snow resources of the Altay and Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang are drawing increasing numbers of skiers and snowboarders, driven by China’s expanding winter sports industry and ice-and-snow economy. A number of high-grade ski resorts have been constructed, attracting a large number of domestic and international tourists and gradually transforming ice and snow resources into economic benefits. (Xinhua/Wang Fei)

Live host Li Quan (front) interacts with the audience at Jiangjunshan International Ski Resort in Altay, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Jan. 28, 2025. In recent years, with the abundant ice and snow resources of the Altay and Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang are drawing increasing numbers of skiers and snowboarders, driven by China’s expanding winter sports industry and ice-and-snow economy. A number of high-grade ski resorts have been constructed, attracting a large number of domestic and international tourists and gradually transforming ice and snow resources into economic benefits. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

A tourist skis in Urumqi, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 5, 2025. In recent years, with the abundant ice and snow resources of the Altay and Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang are drawing increasing numbers of skiers and snowboarders, driven by China’s expanding winter sports industry and ice-and-snow economy. A number of high-grade ski resorts have been constructed, attracting a large number of domestic and international tourists and gradually transforming ice and snow resources into economic benefits. (Xinhua/Wang Fei)

An aerial photo taken on Dec. 4, 2024 shows staff members working on the competition venue for the FWT (Freeride World Tour) qualifier at Jikepulin International Ski Resort in Altay Prefecture, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. In recent years, with the abundant ice and snow resources of the Altay and Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang are drawing increasing numbers of skiers and snowboarders, driven by China’s expanding winter sports industry and ice-and-snow economy. A number of high-grade ski resorts have been constructed, attracting a large number of domestic and international tourists and gradually transforming ice and snow resources into economic benefits. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

Tourists ski in Urumqi, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 5, 2025. In recent years, with the abundant ice and snow resources of the Altay and Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang are drawing increasing numbers of skiers and snowboarders, driven by China’s expanding winter sports industry and ice-and-snow economy. A number of high-grade ski resorts have been constructed, attracting a large number of domestic and international tourists and gradually transforming ice and snow resources into economic benefits. (Xinhua/Wang Fei)

A child skis in Urumqi, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 5, 2025. In recent years, with the abundant ice and snow resources of the Altay and Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang are drawing increasing numbers of skiers and snowboarders, driven by China’s expanding winter sports industry and ice-and-snow economy. A number of high-grade ski resorts have been constructed, attracting a large number of domestic and international tourists and gradually transforming ice and snow resources into economic benefits. (Xinhua/Wang Fei)

A ski expert from New Zealand teaches at Jikepulin International Ski Resort in Altay Prefecture, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Dec. 3, 2024. In recent years, with the abundant ice and snow resources of the Altay and Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang are drawing increasing numbers of skiers and snowboarders, driven by China’s expanding winter sports industry and ice-and-snow economy. A number of high-grade ski resorts have been constructed, attracting a large number of domestic and international tourists and gradually transforming ice and snow resources into economic benefits. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

Tourists take a hot air balloon at Jiangjunshan International Ski Resort in Altay, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Jan. 25, 2025. In recent years, with the abundant ice and snow resources of the Altay and Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang are drawing increasing numbers of skiers and snowboarders, driven by China’s expanding winter sports industry and ice-and-snow economy. A number of high-grade ski resorts have been constructed, attracting a large number of domestic and international tourists and gradually transforming ice and snow resources into economic benefits. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

An aerial photo taken on Jan. 24, 2025 shows a view of Jiangjunshan International Ski Resort in Altay Prefecture, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. In recent years, with the abundant ice and snow resources of the Altay and Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang are drawing increasing numbers of skiers and snowboarders, driven by China’s expanding winter sports industry and ice-and-snow economy. A number of high-grade ski resorts have been constructed, attracting a large number of domestic and international tourists and gradually transforming ice and snow resources into economic benefits. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

A foreign ski coach (2nd L) teaches at Jiangjunshan International Ski Resort in Altay, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Jan. 26, 2025. In recent years, with the abundant ice and snow resources of the Altay and Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang are drawing increasing numbers of skiers and snowboarders, driven by China’s expanding winter sports industry and ice-and-snow economy. A number of high-grade ski resorts have been constructed, attracting a large number of domestic and international tourists and gradually transforming ice and snow resources into economic benefits. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

Skiers perform during the opening ceremony for the 2024-2025 ski season in Urumqi, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Nov. 24, 2024. In recent years, with the abundant ice and snow resources of the Altay and Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang are drawing increasing numbers of skiers and snowboarders, driven by China’s expanding winter sports industry and ice-and-snow economy. A number of high-grade ski resorts have been constructed, attracting a large number of domestic and international tourists and gradually transforming ice and snow resources into economic benefits. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

Tourists enjoy hot springs at Bortala River National Wetland Park in Bortala Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Dec. 22, 2024. In recent years, with the abundant ice and snow resources of the Altay and Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang are drawing increasing numbers of skiers and snowboarders, driven by China’s expanding winter sports industry and ice-and-snow economy. A number of high-grade ski resorts have been constructed, attracting a large number of domestic and international tourists and gradually transforming ice and snow resources into economic benefits. (Xinhua/Chen Shuo)

Tourists ski at Wenquan County’s Cross-Country Ski Resort in Bortala Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Dec. 22, 2024. In recent years, with the abundant ice and snow resources of the Altay and Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang are drawing increasing numbers of skiers and snowboarders, driven by China’s expanding winter sports industry and ice-and-snow economy. A number of high-grade ski resorts have been constructed, attracting a large number of domestic and international tourists and gradually transforming ice and snow resources into economic benefits. (Xinhua/Chen Shuo)

Tourists pose for photos at Jikepulin International Ski Resort in Altay Prefecture, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Dec. 4, 2024. In recent years, with the abundant ice and snow resources of the Altay and Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang are drawing increasing numbers of skiers and snowboarders, driven by China’s expanding winter sports industry and ice-and-snow economy. A number of high-grade ski resorts have been constructed, attracting a large number of domestic and international tourists and gradually transforming ice and snow resources into economic benefits. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

Players pose for photos after the 2025 “Ice and Snow Silk Road Cup” Narati International Alpine Skiing Invitational in Xinyuan County, Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 1, 2025. In recent years, with the abundant ice and snow resources of the Altay and Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang are drawing increasing numbers of skiers and snowboarders, driven by China’s expanding winter sports industry and ice-and-snow economy. A number of high-grade ski resorts have been constructed, attracting a large number of domestic and international tourists and gradually transforming ice and snow resources into economic benefits. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

Reference Link:- https://english.news.cn/20250410/e0b97851583d4ad19c2e863e3120015b/c.html

Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed Awan Founder & Chair, Global Silk Route Research Alliance

Zamir Ahmed Awan is the founder and Chair of the Global Silk Route Research Alliance, a think tank in Islamabad. He studied engineering at Shanghai University in the 1980s, and years later he went back to China as Pakistan's science counsellor in Beijing, from 2010 until 2016, working on science and higher education cooperation between the two countries.…