China’s Altay is a dreamland for skiers

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Shimmering in the sun, the light powder snow on the 1,400-meter high slope of the Altay Mountain is like diamonds for the skiing fanatics, sliding down the hill and drawing perfect curves in the air.

Cave paintings depicting Stone Age hunters skiing were discovered in 2005 in the Altay Prefecture of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Archaeologists have dated the cave paintings as being between 10,000 and 30,000 years old, thus making the area the earliest place where humans used skis.

Altay Prefecture in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. /Sohu Photo

Local herders still preserve their traditional method of traveling with pine wood and horse hair skis. Today, Altay is attracting skiers worldwide with its vast area of natural powder snow, which is prized by skiers.

Altay Prefecture in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. /Sohu Photo

"It is no less than a winter wonderland for ski fanatics like me," said Tang Zhigang, general manager of the Altay Mountain Backcountry Ski Park.

The park was opened in January 2017 and has a natural mountainous landscape and a suitable oxygen level. It is the first resort in Xinjiang to boast a primitive skiing area without constructed pistes or artificial snow, ideal for off-piste skiing. The average annual snow fall in the area ranges from 1.5 meters to 6 meters.

Villagers ride a horse carrying hay in Altai Mountains in Khom village of Altay, Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, China, Jan. 27, 2018. /VCG Photo

Since the season began in October 2017, the park has received more than 4,000 skiers not only from China but also the United States, Canada, Australia and Japan.

The Skiing industry also provides jobs in remote Altay. Yargyabug Nima, a native of Altay and an excellent skier, became a guide in the ski park last year after taking professional training.

Visitors try traditional Kazakh wooden skis at Hemu village in Altay Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. /Xinhua Photo

"Many of my colleagues were herders before. At that time life was tough in winter when heavy snow cut off traffic. But things have changed a lot since the local government improved the transport and infrastructure," said Yargyabug.

Apart from the skiing park, Altay Prefecture has three ski resorts, and two new resorts are under construction.

Namujeli, 13, skis home in Altai Mountains in Khom village of Altay, Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, China, Jan. 27, 2018. /VCG Photo

According to the prefecture's tourism department, Altay's winter tourism programs were visited by 3 million tourists in 2017, accounting for 19 percent of the tourists received by the prefecture.

The 24th Winter Olympics will be held in Beijing and Zhangjiakou in Hebei Province in February 2022. Preparations are already underway to get the venues ready.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency