Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Wang Jingjing) news: In winter, wouldn't you love to explore a winter settlement (dongwozi) deep within the snowy forests of spruce? Riding a horse for three hours over two mountains, you can reach a cozy log cabin at the winter settlement, from the campsite atop the Kuerdening scenic area, in Gongliu County, Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. There, you can join the herdsmen in brewing milk tea, frying "Borsak," and in the valley, watch the horses breathe out frosty breath while listening to the herdsmen's calls echoing through the flock.

Photo taken on late November, 2024 shows the CTG Bairui Xinjiang Tourism Development Co., Ltd. leads a team to scout the winter settlements in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Ma Bin)

"This year, we have developed a tour route to explore the winter settlements. The first group has already been formed, and in ten days, ten tourists from Beijing and Hubei Province will embark on this adventure," said Ma Bin, manager of the Customized Travel Department at CTG Bairui Xinjiang Tourism Development Co., Ltd. on January 2, 2025. In mid-November, 2024, he led his team members to scout the winter settlements, as they wanted tourists to know that winter in Xinjiang is not just about the excitement of ice and snow sports, but also about the profound folk customs related to ice and snow. Developing this tour route to the winter settlements is the best way for tourists to immerse themselves in the authentic lives of local farmers and herdsmen.

To explain clearly to tourists what a winter settlement actually is, Ma Bin looked up information and consulted experts in geography and folklore. In simple terms, the formation of winter settlements is related to climate, geographical location, and folklore. "The term 'winter settlement' vividly expresses its geographical location. Xinjiang is located in the Northern Hemisphere, and winter settlements are generally situated on the sunny slope of a mountainside, where there is ample sunshine, and at the same time, ice and snow can reflect sunlight," said Liu Kailong, a geography teacher at Urumqi No. 10 Middle School. Winter settlements are typically located in lower-lying valleys where heat is not easily lost, and the mountain bodies can block the outside cold air.

Photo taken on late November, 2024 shows a herdsman splits firewood at a winter settlement near the Kuerdening scenic area in Gongliu County, Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Ma Bin)

To understand the concept of a winter settlement, one must first grasp the nomadic lifestyle of herdsmen, which revolves around seeking out water and grass. In Xinjiang's agricultural and pastoral regions, pastures are vertically distributed as the altitude of the mountains changes, ranging from lowland deserts to alpine meadows. Based on climate conditions, slope orientation, and grass availability, seasonal migration for grazing is practiced, allocating the pastures separately for four seasons, rotated to minimize livestock damage to the grasslands. A winter settlement refers specifically to the winter pasture. During winter, herdsmen return from the mountainous autumn pastures to plains, valleys, and desert-steppe areas where the ground is not covered with thick snow, allowing livestock to forage. Winter pastures are typically small in size and distributed in a pattern of small clusters scattered widely. From November to mid-March of the following year, spanning half a year, herdsmen and their livestock stay in the winter pastures.

There are numerous winter settlements (dongwozi) in China's Xinjiang, mainly distributed in northern Xinjiang and the western mountainous regions of southern Xinjiang. "Most of the scenic spots in Xinjiang that tourists can visit in winter are located within the 'Platinum Ice and Snow Tourism Belt' between the 40th and 50th parallels north. Some scenic spots are situated in the inversion layer, where the average winter temperature is around -10 degrees Celsius. Compared to those icy and bone-chilling ski resorts, this temperature is indeed pleasant," said Liu Kailong. He added that the Silk Road Mountain Resort and the Tianshan Tianchi Ski Resort are both situated within winter settlements, characterized by a warm climate and little wind, making them ideal for winter sports.

Apart from ski resorts, some winter settlements that have preserved traces of the original nomadic lifestyle and are easily accessible to tourists have become the new darlings of winter ice and snow tourism in Xinjiang. In recent years, scenic spots in China’s Xinjiang have achieved year-round operation. With well-developed road facilities and effective snow clearance measures in winter, tourists can now delve deeper into the winter settlements to experience authentic ice and snow culture.

The winter settlements accessible to tourists are located near scenic areas with relatively complete infrastructure, specifically those in the shallow mountainous regions. For herdsmen at the distant winter grazing points deep in the mountains, there is also good news this winter: their winter settlements have turned into warm havens. As one of the "Ten Major Livelihood Projects" of government of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in 2024, localities across Xinjiang are constructing safe and comfortable production houses for herdsmen at winter settlements. Equipped with solar energy systems and heating facilities, these houses ensure the safety and well-being of herdsmen during the winter at their winter settlements.

(A written permission shall be obtained for reprinting, excerpting, copying and mirroring of the contents published on this website. Unauthorized aforementioned act shall be deemed an infringement, of which the actor shall be held accountable under the law.)