Xinjiang China

Most of the skiing in China near Beijing is unattractive for powder hounds due to the low natural snowfall and the crowds, but thankfully Xinjiang breaks the stereotype of China skiing. Xinjiang usually scores plenty of snow and is not heavily populated relative to other parts of China. Many of the ski areas are near the borders with Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, and thankfully the snow quality and quantity mimics these Central Asian countries. Temps are cold but not as frigid as those in the NE of China.

The literal meaning of Xinjiang is “new frontier” which seems rather apt. Despite the winter Olympics being hosted in and around Beijing, the Olympics has also increased the popularity of skiing on the other side of the country in Xinjiang. The Xinjiang ski resorts are relatively quiet compared to other Chinese ski resorts, yet the popularity of Xinjiang skiing continues to increase rather rapidly with the domestic market.

Whilst other countries may lay claim also, Xinjiang claims to be the birthplace of skiing because old cave painting of hunters on skis were discovered in the northern part of Xinjiang in the Altay Prefecture. The carvings are thought to date back 10,000 to 30,000 years.

Xinjiang is also a well known part of the Silk Road which ran from the east to northwest of Xinjiang. Due to its location, Xinjiang has a long history of different ethnic groups vying for control of the lands, and a resulting rich cultural diversity. 

Where is Xinjiang?

Officially known as Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, Xinjiang is located in northwest China at the junction of East Asia and Central Asia. Xinjiang shares borders with lots of countries including Mongolia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. There are direct flights to Urumqi, the capital city of Xinjiang China, from both Almaty (Kazakhstan) and Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan). There are also direct flights from Tashkent in Uzbekistan, Istanbul and Tbilisi in Georgia.

Xinjiang is a rather mountainous territory. Of particular note, the Altai Mountains sit in the north of Xinjiang, straddling the short border with Russia and also with Mongolia. To the south is the Tarim Basin which connects to the Tianshan Range which sits in the central part of Xinjiang, providing a natural division between the north and south of the region. It is part of the Tianshan Mountain system of Central Asia. 

Xinjiang Ski Resorts

Xinjiang has more than a hundred ski resorts. Here are some of the Xinjiang ski resorts

Selection of Ski Resorts in Xinjiang
Ski Area	Top (m)	Base (m)	Vertical (m)	Runs (km)	Lifts	Location	Prefecture
General's Mountain	1,305	915	390	*	3	Altay City	Altay
Jiangjun Shan	1,325	900	425	17	7	Altay City	Altay
Jikepulin Hemu	2,779	1,383	1,396	70	10	Hemu	Altay
Koktokay (Keketuohai)	3,041	1,821	1,220	28	3		Altay
Ping Tian	3,075	1,975	1,100	20	10	1 hr drive from Urumqi	Tianshan
Silk Road	2,450	1,850	600	10	9	ShuiXiGou	Tianshan
Tianshan	2,451	2,325	126	4	5	near Urumqi	Tianshan

Koktokay (Keketuohai) Ski Resort is in the northern part of Xinjiang. It is known for having a very long ski season and good snow, thanks to its high elevation. It is a modern ski resort with 3 gondolas that service a variety of terrain including some steeper runs and terrain parks including a pipe. Access is via the Fuyun Koktokay Airport then 2 hours road transport.

Jikepulin – Hemu in Northern Xinjiang is a very snowy ski resort and large and very modern. It has 10 lifts including a few gondolas and high speed quads, and 70km of slopes, although it seems to be ever expanding with respect to the ski area and the hotels at the base areas. In addition to mellow slopes there are some off-piste and backcountry options and it’s a venue for the Freeride World Tour. It can be a bit of a mission to get to Jikepulin as it’s about 6 to 8 hours drive from Altay to get to Hemu, and it’s not far from the Kazakhstan border, yet the upside is that the slopes are not too crowded.

The city of Altay aka Aletai in the Altai Prefecture has the nearby General Mountain International Ski Resort. It’s so close to the city it almost feels like it’s part of it, and the ski resort seems to focus on the piste skiing, with an overabundance of bunting to fence off the slopes, some of which are congested narrow slopes. Most of the resort is open for night skiing. Nearby is the Jiangjun Shan Ski Resort.

Uzirik Snow Park is ideal for freeriders and has plenty of potential for ski touring.

One hour drive from Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang, is Ping Tian Ski Resort. It’s a decent sized ski area, with the high elevation being its predominant feature.

Silk Road Ski Resort is also located near Urumqi, it's a popular choice for both locals and tourists, although it may not attract the attention of powder hounds. The new gondola takes you up to an elevation of 2,440 meters. Most descents from the gondola are short and steep, while the runs from the chairlifts at the resort are longer and flatter.

BaiYun Ski Resort and Tianshian Ski Area are also easily accessed from the city of Urumqi.