A number of skiers hit the slopes at an international ski resort in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, as continuous snowfall over the past few days has created optimal conditions for the resort marking the gradual onset of the new ski season.
Xinjiang's Altay Prefecture is emerging as a popular ski destination as its three ski resorts -- Jiangjun Mountain, Koktokay and Jikepulin -- offer better terrain variety and a longer ski season. The prefecture typically welcome hordes of ski enthusiasts each year, with a lengthy skiing season running from late October through May.
Since Oct. 12, skiing enthusiasts from all over the country have started to gather at the Koktokay International Ski Resort to enjoy the first ski runs of the season. This resort is the first large-scale outdoor ski area in China to open in the new ice and snow sport season.
Skiers have expressed their excitement about hitting the slopes.
"I arrived here on Oct. 2 just to ski with friends, and I've been looking forward to the resort's opening. The snow quality is already quite excellent now," said Chen Huitong, a skier from Chengdu City, southwest China's Sichuan Province.
"This is my first time skiing here, and I find the trails to be quite long and enjoyable," said Chen Yubin, another skier from south China's Guangdong Province.
Benefiting from its high-altitude terrain, the Koktokay International Ski Resort opens earlier than other resorts in China. With 80 trails totaling 121 kilometers, the resort caters to skiers of all skill levels. This year, the resort has upgraded several trails and terrain parks to enhance the skiing experience.
Meanwhile, Altay has rolled out a series of preferential policies aimed at encouraging tourism, including free access for local residents and complimentary ski passes for visitors with flight tickets. These initiatives aim to attract more tourists and allow them to experience the unique charm of winter sports in Xinjiang.
Continuous snowfall kicks off ski season in northwest China's Xinjiang
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
