Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Yao Gang) news: During the Spring Festival holiday of the Year of the Snake, Xinjiang's cultural and tourism market flourished. According to the Department of Culture and Tourism of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, from January 28 to February 4, 2025, Xinjiang welcomed a cumulative total of 7.9425 million tourist visits, marking a year-on-year increase of 10.04 percent. Tourists spent 8.075 billion yuan (about 1.11 billion U.S dollars), up 9.35 percent compared to the previous year.

Photo shows a performance of Chinese folk art Datiehua, also known as molten iron splashing, an intangible cultural heritage, at Nanhu Park in Kuqa City, Aksu Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Zhou Peilan)

Last year, the Spring Festival, China's biggest celebration, has officially been inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The Year of the Snake feels people's enthusiasm, the diverse and colorful customs and traditions across various places. People engage in a wide range of cultural and tourism activities that add a rich festive atmosphere to the holiday season.

At an intangible cultural heritage themed Spring Festival celebration event held in the Kazanqi folk tourism area in Yining City, Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, performances such as Peking Opera, Henan Opera, Kara Jorga, a traditional Kazak folk dance, and Muqam took the stage one after another, allowing citizens and tourists to experience the charm of excellent traditional culture. During the 39th Qinhuai Lantern Show held in Ili River scenic area, people visited the intangible cultural heritage market, tasted local delicacies, and admired the breathtaking Qinhuai lanterns. In the Gumo Pavilion of the second phase of the Dolan River in Aksu City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the "Snake Dances with Chinese Charm · Fortune Blesses Aksu" themed lantern show was staged, bringing a stunning visual feast to the audience. In Kuqa City's Nanhu Park, intangible cultural heritage Datiehua performances were held, attracting many tourists to watch.

During the Chinese Spring Festival, numerous cultural and tourism activities were held across China's Xinjiang, encompassing mass culture, sports events, and intangible cultural heritage activities. According to statistics, a total of 727 cultural and tourism activities were organized in various prefectures and cities throughout Xinjiang, including 307 cultural performances, 80 museum exhibitions, 50 tourism promotion events, 78 sports events, and 212 folk custom activities. These activities not only enriched tourists' travel experiences but also showcased the cultural charm of the Chinese Spring Festival in Xinjiang.

Photo shows the Tianshan Tamer scenic area is bustling with visitors during the Spring Festival, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. This was the first small peak of tourist numbers during the Spring Festival since the scenic area was designated as a national 5A-level tourist attraction. (Photo by Zhou Peilan)

The popularity of ice and snow tourism was high. Ski resorts across Xinjiang actively integrated cultural, folkloric, and sporting elements and industries into skiing, making celebrating the New Year at ski resorts a trendy choice. On February 2, 2025, Jiangjunshan International Ski Resort in Altay City welcomed over 10,000 skiing tourists, marking a 23 percent year-on-year increase and setting a new record for the highest number of skiers in a single day at the resort.

During the Spring Festival holiday, various places across Xinjiang offered seven ways to enjoy winter tourism in Xinjiang, 72 winter boutique tourism products, and 30 boutique winter tourism routes under the theme of "Experience the Beauty of Ice and Snow in Xinjiang". These routes and products covered a variety of ice and snow tourism experiences such as skiing, snow appreciation, and others, attracting a large number of tourists to experience the charm of ice and snow in Xinjiang.

To stimulate the vitality of cultural and tourism consumption and promote the vigorous development of the holiday cultural and tourism market, various culture and tourism departments across Xinjiang have adopted measures such as policy guidance, financial support, and platform cooperation. A total of 153 preferential policies, including ticket discounts and accommodation promotions, were introduced to provide tourists with more affordable travel services, further invigorating the cultural and tourism market during the Spring Festival holiday.

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