Shiliuyun - Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Yao Gang) news: The reporter learned from the Culture and Tourism Department of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region that in the first two months of 2023, 36 S-level ski resorts in Xinjiang received a total of 993,300 tourists and realized a tourism revenue of 105 million yuan. Among them, the 5S and 4S level ski resorts received a total of 765,200 tourists, accounting for about 77.03% of the total number of people received at S-level ski resorts, and realized a tourism revenue of 89 million yuan.

Yemili Ski Resort in Emin County, northwest China’s Xinjiang welcomes skiers. (Photo by Bureau of Culture, Sports, Radio, Television and Tourism of Tacheng Prefecture)

Ice and snow tourism became a popular option for Xinjiang people during the Spring Festival in 2023 and attracted a large number of tourists from outside Xinjiang. During the Spring Festival, the three major ski resorts, namely Jiangjunshan International Ski Resort in Altay City, Keketuohai International Ski Resort in Fuyun County and Hemu (Jikepulin) International Ski Resort, received 54,800 tourists, an increase of 33% compared with the Spring Festival in 2022. The Silk Road International Resort received 21000 tourists.

During the Spring Festival, the ski resort of the Silk Road International Resort in Urumqi County is full of tourists. (Photo by Zhai Tingfei)

“All parts of Xinjiang make full use of snow and ice resources based on ski resorts and skating rinks, and implant folklore, festival celebrations and sporting events into winter tourism to inject vitality into ice and snow tourism,” said Cao Zhihui, director of the Market Management Directorate of the Culture and Tourism Department of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The first Winter Games of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region was held in Altay Prefecture. The Bosten Lake scenic spot and the Sayram Lake scenic spot have integrated and innovated ice and snow tourism with folk activities and sports, promoting the “ice and snow+” model to turn white snow into money.

Zhou Hao, deputy director of the Resources Development Directorate of the Culture and Tourism Department of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, said that Xinjiang has three national-level ski resorts, the next step is to improve the layouts and service facilities of ski resorts, and develop ice and snow products based on ice and snow sports and tourism to meet people's diverse needs for ice and snow tourism.

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