Xinjiang herdsmen start a 300-kilometer journey with ancient fur skis

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A team of nine herdsmen in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region started a 300-kilometer journey on Saturday with ancient fur skis.

The fur skis, which are made of pine wood and furry horsehide, have a history of more than 10,000 years.

People are ready for the fur skiing competition in Altay, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, northwestern China, November 29, 2014. /VCG Photo

The herdsmen, who are from the prefecture of Altay and have more than 20 years' experience in fur skiing, will travel in mountainous regions in 10 days with the route of over 100 kilometers being in the uninhabited area, as they have to pass the night in minus thirty degrees then.

Altay is believed to be one of the places in which skiing originated, where an ancient rock paint depicting people hunting with the fur skis was found, dating back more than 10,000 years.

An ancient painting in a cave shows rows of figures standing on what looks like skis (top L), with herds of animals running below them, on the outskirts of Altay, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China, January 25, 2018. /VCG Photo

The journey aims to promote the preservation of fur skis as an ancient heritage and the development of winter sports in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, said Maliqin, leader of the team.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency