As the winter vacation season kicks off, a ski resort in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is buzzing with tourists eager to embrace the thrill of winter sports.
January is the busiest season for the Jikepulin ski resort in Altay, with ski enthusiasts from across the country flocking here to immerse themselves in its stunning natural scenery and exhilarating winter sports.
"The snow mountains here are truly stunning. We can enjoy the beautiful scenery while skiing," said Yan Jie, a ski enthusiast
The ski resort, in its third year of operation, has seen a steady increase in the number of visitors since mid November last year, with visitors growing from 3,000 per day at the beginning to 7,000 now.
"In the first year, the revenue was approximately eight to nine million yuan (about one million U.S. dollars). In the second year, it reached around 80 million yuan (about 11 million U.S. dollars). This year, which is the third year, it's estimated to be about 175 million yuan (about 24 million U.S. dollars) . For the 2023-2024 season, we received nearly 290,000 visitors. For the 2024-2025 season, I estimate that the winter operations revenue of the ski resort alone will be around 90 million yuan (12 million U.S. dollars), and the number of visitors is expected to reach between 330,000 and 350,000, representing an increase of 15 percent to 20 percent," said Zhang Wei, a person in charge of the Jikepulin ski resort.
Since late December, the daily number of tourists received by all the four major ski resort in Altay has reached about 15,000, up 20 percent from the same period of last year.
The widespread winter sports have spurred rapid growth in industries such as dining, accommodation, retail, and cultural tourism activities in areas rich in ice and snow resources.
As more and more people flock to Xinjiang to enjoy snow and ice sports, Hemu, a small village that is not far from the Jikepulin ski resort, has come to life.
Hemu is one of the most well-preserved and oldest Tuvan villages in China. Every year, the village receives an average snowfall of about two meters, making it one of the richest areas in China for ice and snow resources.
Previously, villagers relied on horse trails for transportation and herding for their livelihood. Tourism became a new source of income for the villagers after a road was built into the village in 2015. The most significant change came in the winter of 2022, when the Jikepulin ski resort, located five kilometers from the village, began operation, greatly boosting local winter tourism.
"At the beginning, we had virtually no tourists in the winter when the ice and snow tourism was not developed. After the ski resort opened, our winter tourism took off. The visitor numbers increased, and our income significantly rose. In 2023, the village's income reached 4.2 million yuan (about 570,000 U.S. dollars), and this year it has increased significantly, with the total income surpassing six million yuan (about 820,000 U.S. dollars)," said Yerken Bayer, a village official.
In 2024, Hemu welcomed over two million visitors. The local infrastructure has been improved, with lodging capacity increasing from around 1,000 beds in 2018 to 11,800 currently. Transportation, dining, and entertainment facilities have also been enhanced.
Most of the 588 households in Hemu are now involved in winter tourism, resulting in an annual income increase of approximately 150,000 yuan per household.
Ski resorts in Xinjiang's snow-covered regions usher in peak season
