At the foot of the Tianshan Mountains in early winter, Xinyuan County in Xinjiang's Ili Kazakh Autonomous Region is already blanketed in snow. This season, Xinyuan has introduced promotions such as free entry to ski resorts, complimentary hot spring experiences, and half-price tickets for self-driving tourists to boost winter tourism appeal.

The Nalati Scenic Area has organized diverse activities centered on themes like "snow + sightseeing," "snow + folk culture," and "snow + cuisine." Visitors can enjoy skiing, snow play, and immerse themselves in authentic local traditions at folk villages, experiencing the unique charm of Nalati in winter.

"Winter used to be a quiet season with few tourists, but now it's peak time—we can hardly keep up," said Bai He, a homestay operator in Nalati Town. "Thanks to ski resort expansions and improved roads, more visitors are coming, and our business is thriving."

During this year's National Day holiday, Xinyuan welcomed 1.0475 million domestic tourists, a 16.39% year-on-year increase, generating tourism revenue of 706 million yuan, up 18.14%. More travelers are now choosing Xinyuan for its grassland scenery, winter sports, and hot spring retreats.

According to the county's cultural and tourism bureau, winter tourism has spurred growth in dining, lodging, and transportation sectors. Xinyuan currently has 237 hotels, 1,224 homestays, and 12 campsites, forming an integrated "food, accommodation, travel, shopping, and entertainment" tourism ecosystem that is transitioning toward smart and branded services.

This winter, the Nalati Hainsai Ski Resort added eight new slopes and introduced a night skiing lighting system for the first time, enhancing the skiing experience. With support from Jiangsu's aid program, Xinyuan continues to improve its tourism services in standardization and marketization.

The county's cultural and tourism bureau stated that from "scenery" to "economy," winter tourism is becoming a new engine for high-quality development in the local tourism sector.