How can "cold" be turned into "dividends"? How can "cold resources" be transformed into a "hot economy"? This winter, various ice and snow activities have commenced across Xinjiang, with an increasing number of tourists heeding the call of the snow-clad landscapes to step into the winter wonderland. The ice and snow economy continues to unleash a powerful "thermal driving force," vividly sketching a development picture where "ice and snow are as valuable as mountains of gold and silver."
Winter sports are steaming with activity. Abundant snowfall, a long snow season, superior snow quality, and vast snow-covered areas are the unique advantages for Xinjiang's development of winter tourism. In the depths of winter, the Around the Altai Mountains Winter Games are in full swing; ice sailing competitions are fiercely contested on the frozen surface of Bosten Lake; at the Sayram Lake Ski Resort, visitors enjoy skiing down alpine slopes, savoring the unique experience of snow underfoot and the blue lake before their eyes.
This winter, the charm of Xinjiang's ice and snow is continuously radiating. Tourists from all directions gather in Xinjiang, embarking on a shared winter sports journey. Major ski resorts in Xinjiang are no longer just single-purpose skiing venues; they have evolved into comprehensive holiday destinations integrating sports, sightseeing, culture, and leisure. At the Altai General Mountain International Ski Resort, paragliders glide over the slopes, while hot air balloons float slowly above the snowfields. Constantly "refreshed" business formats are driving rapid growth in the number of visitors received by the ski resorts.
Ice and snow culture is captivating. In January this year, an ancient fur ski competition was held at the Altai General Mountain International Ski Resort. Competitors, on fur skis and wielding solid wooden ski poles, engaged in fierce competition. Historically, fur skis were an important means of transportation for local herders in winter; today, their function has shifted from hunting and travel to sports, becoming a distinctive activity that enriches the content of winter ice and snow tourism. In recent years, Xinjiang has actively promoted the deep integration of ice and snow tourism with local folk culture, developing ice and snow folk experience projects with regional characteristics. The deep integration of "ice and snow + tourism + culture" is polishing Xinjiang's new winter sports名片.
Ice and snow are now boosting regional development. Currently, Xinjiang's ice and snow economy has formed a differentiated development pattern between its northern and southern regions. Northern Xinjiang focuses on high-quality winter sports and international events, creating professional experience scenarios; Southern Xinjiang, combining its regional characteristics, offers differentiated ice and snow products that integrate folk customs and feature distinctive leisure activities, forming a development trend of complementary advantages.