Skiers hit slopes in Xinjiang as recent snowfall heralds start of ski season

A number of skiers hit the slopes for the first time this winter in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Sunday after a round of snowfall heralded the start of the region’s long-awaited ski season.

The mountainous regions of Xinjiang's Altay Prefecture typically welcome hordes of ski enthusiasts visitors each year, with its lengthy skiing season typically running from late October through to May.

One ski resort in Altay saw an influx of early arrivals over the past weekend after several days of snowfall, with many desperate to grab the first available opportunity to don their ski goggles and get out on the trails.

"We have been eagerly awaiting the start of the ski season for about half a year. Now we're very excited and happy," said a skier.

One enthusiast said he was so keen to hit the slopes he even got up before dawn.

"I came to the ski resort last night and I think I was the first one out on the entire resort this morning. I arrived between five and six o'clock, when the sky was still dark," he said.

As temperatures continue to drop and with more snowfall on the way, ski resorts across Xinjiang are set to see the number of visitors grow in the coming weeks.

Skiers hit slopes in Xinjiang as recent snowfall heralds start of ski season

U.S. stocks ended lower on Tuesday as climbing U.S. Treasury yields continued to weigh on investor sentiment.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 322.24 points, or 0.65 percent, to 49,363.88. The The Standard and Poor's 500 sank 49.44 points, or 0.67 percent, to 7,353.61, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index shed 220.03 points, or 0.84 percent, to close at 25,870.71.

A primary source of downward pressure came from the fixed-income market. The yield on the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note climbed back above 4.6 percent, while the 30-year Treasury yield nearly touched 5.2 percent, marking its highest level in nearly 19 years.

The high-yield environment acted as a drag on high-valuation growth sectors, which are particularly sensitive to elevated interest rates. Six of the 11 primary The Standard and Poor's 500 sectors closed in negative territory, with materials and communication services leading the declines by dropping 2.27 percent and 1.58 percent, respectively. In contrast, the healthcare sector gained 1.09 percent and the energy sector advanced 1.03 percent.

Market participants are also focusing on Wednesday's upcoming after-hours earnings release from Nvidia.

U.S. stocks close lower amid rising yields