The transfer of livestock is a traditional way of production and life that has been followed for a long time in the pastoral areas of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is an important measure to cope with seasonal changes, make rational use of grassland resources, and ensure the sustainable development of animal husbandry. As temperatures continued to drop, the herdsmen of Yining County drove their livestock over the mountains and into the winter pastures.

Photo shows livestock transfer in Yining County, Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Photo shows livestock transfer in Yining County, Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

In the past two days, the mountains area to the north of Mazha Township in Yining County has been covered by the heavy snow that fell not long ago. The livestock of Nurbanu Alijuma, a villager in Tuoxun Village, Awuliya Township, Yining County, are all fat and strong. The family chose to move on foot, crossing the mountains, along the Kuersai pasture road, through the North Tianshan Tunnel, and moved to the winter pasture with a relatively warm climate and relatively abundant grass.

Photo shows local resident, Nurbanu Alijuma. She and her family from Tuoxun Village, Awuliya Township, Yining County have moved to Axiale "Dongwozi (meaning winter shelter)" in Nilka County, Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

"We have 350 cattle, sheep and horses. We are going to the winter pasture in Axiale of Nilka County. It will take us two days to get there. We will come back in March next year," said Nurbanu Alijuma on November 14, 2025.

Photo shows livestock transfer in Yining County, Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

This winter, the livestock transfer in Yining County mainly involves 450 herdsmen households with a total of 1,026 people in three townships. Some herdsmen chose mechanized transfer, and transferred to the pastures of Bole City, Wenquan County and Jinghe County in Bortala Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture along the Urumqi-Yining Highway and Guozigou Bridge.

Photo shows a forage transfer station during the transfer process in Yining County, Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Photo shows livestock transfer in Yining County, Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Photo shows livestock transfer in Yining County, Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Photo shows livestock transfer in Yining County, Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

In order to ensure the orderly and safe transfer work, the multiple departments of Yining County planned in advance, coordinated and linked, formulated a detailed transfer plan and emergency plan, and conducted a survey and maintenance of the main transfer channels in advance. At the same time, service teams were organized to follow along the way, and weather warning information was released to herdsmen in a timely manner to prevent the adverse effects of possible wind, snow and other bad weather on the transfer. It is expected that 114,000 heads of livestock in Yining County will be transferred to the distant winter pasture before November 30.

(The Media Convergence Center of Yining County, Reporter Chen Yongmei)