Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Wang Jingjing) news: At around 6 p.m. on December 23, 2025, the Quanji Strawberry Picking Base at Bajiahu Village of Banfanggou Town in Urumqi County, Urumqi City, welcomed the last wave of tourist peak for the day. Tourists who had just come from a nearby ski resort, dressed in snow gear, poured into the greenhouses. Instantly, laughter filled the air, and a warm atmosphere pervaded. "We came here to ski, and we left the children with the elderly to take care of. So we want to pick some strawberries to take home as a treat for the grandma, who has been working hard taking care of the kids," said tourist Chen Chen.

Photo shows every weekend, the Quanji Strawberry Picking Base receives around 400 visitors daily. (Photo by Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily/ Wang Jingjing)

On that day, the interview group themed "Winter in Xinjiang is Great" visited the ecological leisure agricultural park at Bajiahu Village of Banfanggou Town in Urumqi County — a place that integrates ecological agriculture demonstration with leisurely picking experiences. Stepping into the strawberry greenhouses, a wave of warmth greeted them. Tourists took off their snow gear, rolled up their sleeves, and bent down to personally pick the bright red, plump strawberries. The new model of "skiing + picking" has brought vibrancy to winter in Urumqi County. Each bright red strawberry and each basket of fresh vegetables have become another delightful harvest for ski enthusiasts after their exhilarating runs on the slopes.

"Modern greenhouse cultivation has enabled us to supply strawberries all year round. This year, to cater to ice and snow tourism, many ski enthusiasts only have time to come in the afternoon, so we've specially installed lighting facilities in the greenhouses," said Zhang Haiyang, the person in charge of the Quanji Strawberry Base. "Over the winter break, our milk strawberry were cleared out."

Zhang Haiyang's team comes from Dandong, east China's Liaoning Province, known as the "Hometown of Strawberries." "This place boasts a superior geographical location, with long hours of sunshine and significant temperature differences between day and night, making it highly suitable for strawberry cultivation," he said. Unlike traditional greenhouses, this facility employs a scientific, data-driven cultivation model that allows for round-the-clock monitoring of various production indicators inside the greenhouses, including temperature, humidity, and light intensity, as well as soil temperature, moisture, and fertility. Staff can monitor the growing conditions in each greenhouse via their mobile phones. They have carefully selected 12 high-quality strawberry varieties suitable for cultivation in Xinjiang and freely shared their planting techniques with surrounding farmers.

Photo shows the ice cream-flavored strawberries look so fresh and charming at Quanji Strawberry Picking Base at Bajiahu Village of Banfanggou Town in Urumqi County, Urumqi City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily/ Wang Jingjing)

Currently, on weekends, the daily visitor count at the Quanji Strawberry Picking Base reaches around 400 people, with 20 percent of them being ski enthusiasts. To accommodate skiing tourists, the picking hours have been extended until 11 p.m. "Even if they want to come pick after skiing the night session, we'll keep the lights on for them," said Zhang Haiyang. In addition to on-site picking, the base also sells strawberries online, offering next-day delivery across Xinjiang. Many tourists who pick strawberries on-site also make repeat purchases online. Just over the past weekend alone, the sales revenue from picking tours reached 80,000 yuan (about 11432.4 U.S. dollars).

In Urumqi County, there are a total of 280 greenhouses available for picking during winter, primarily featuring strawberries, along with blueberries, tomatoes, leafy vegetables, and more. These greenhouses are distributed in Shuixigou Town and Banfanggou Town. They are becoming a vibrant part of the winter ice-snow tourism industry chain in Urumqi, enriching the experience of tourists and bringing tangible benefits to local farmers.

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