Xinjiang welcomed 1.6838 million tourist visits during the 2026 New Year holiday, generating total tourism revenue of 1.532 billion yuan (about 209.88 million U.S. dollars).

Amid the tourism boom during the New Year holiday, young travelers took center stage. According to data from Trip.com Group (formerly Ctrip), "post-00s" travelers accounted for as high as 39 percent of all tourists, followed closely by the "post-90s" and "post-80s" groups. Across Xinjiang, diverse and engaging cultural and tourism activities were organized to attract young visitors.

Photo shows tourists experience ice sports in the Qinggeda Lake National Tourist Scenic Area, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Wei Xinjiang)

During the holiday, at the Nanhu Park in Kuqa City, Aksu Prefecture, a ritual of harvesting ice for good fortune was held, centered on the "first ice harvest" to bring visitors fortune and prosperity in the new year. At the Kumtag Desert scenic area in Shanshan County, Turpan City, travelers welcomed the arrival of the new year amid laser shows, starry-sky chorus performances, and desert concerts. In Kanas scenic area, Altay Prefecture, visitors stepped into a "fairytale snowfield," admiring snow-cloaked forests and lakes, while many also gathered around stoves at Hemu Village to brew tea, enjoying warmth, peace, and the local way of life. Meanwhile, the opening of Bailuzhou Ski Resort in Bohu County, Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, attracted large crowds with its rare triple vista — lake, desert, and snowy slopes, all in one frame. “Here you can ski while seeing both snow and desert — something you hardly experience at other ski resorts,” said Li Huixin, a visitor from northeast China, savoring the rare pleasure of snow framed by desert.

Photo taken on January 2, 2026 shows children enjoy ice and snow activities such as snow tubes and snowmobiles at Urumqi Cultural and Sports Park in Urumqi City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Sun Zhensong)

Data from Chinese online travel agency Tongcheng Travel shows that bookings for Xinjiang attractions over the New Year holiday tripled year-on-year, while hotel reservations rose by nearly 40 percent.

Tianshan Tianchi Scenic Area received 16,723 tourist visits during the period, marking a year-on-year increase of 188 percent. Visitor spending totaled 8.36 million yuan (about 1.15 million U.S. dollars), up 383 percent from the same period last year. Among the most popular destinations were Sayram Lake, Tianshan Tianchi, Kanas, Hemu Village, and Narat.

While domestic tourism thrived during the New Year holiday, inbound tourism to Xinjiang also showed promising signs. Data from Trip.com reveals that nationwide bookings related to inbound travel surged significantly over the holiday period, with reservations for experiential activities by international visitors soaring more than 30 times year-on-year. In Xinjiang, the primary sources of inbound tourists included Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and South Korea, while travelers from Central Asia and Europe also began showing interest in Xinjiang's winter travel itineraries.

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