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after Harbin of Northeast China for ice and snow tourism, according to a local tourism official. Xinjiang, which has a high quality of snow and a long snowy period, has rich resources for developing winter tourism. Through more than 10 years of effort, Xinjiang’s ice and snow tourism has entered a boom season.

Two Chinese Kazak people play an ethnic sport in Altay, Northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region where an ice and snow festival kicks off on Nov 30. [Photo/Xinhua]

The rugged remote city of th e northern part of Xinjiang is honored as "the cradle of traditional Chinese skiing. In 2006,archaeologists proved Altay to be a place of skiing some 100 to 200 centuries ago, after discovering some cliff paintings of hunters on a long rectangular board with poles in their hands.Ayanta, from Huntgut Mongolian autonomous township of Altay, together with about 50 fellow villagers, gave a wonderful skiing show on their ancient skiing boards.

The people of Kanas Lake and Hemu village, where the Tuwa live and which is famous for beautiful changing colors of water and boundless forest, also take part in Xinjiang’s winter tourism development package. To make Xinjiang stand out from other Chinese provinces in developing winter tourism, tourism products featuring ice and snow, as well as unique folk customs will be the main attractions. 

A villager from Huntgut Mongolian autonomous township skies on ancient skiing boards at the Jiangjun Ski Resort in Altay, the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, on Wendesday.[ Photo by Shao Wei ]

Last winter ski resorts in all parts of Xinjiang received some 3 million visitors. And the income from ice and snow tourism made up one sixth of the annual tourism income in Xinjiang, being the key driver of the province's economic growth.