Snow sculptures demonstrating Xinjiang's traditional culture are
displayed in the People's Square and Red Hill Park. Sliding boards
carved by ice also attract many tourists. Moreover, Xuelianshan and
Silk Road ski runs are also well prepared for upcoming 20-30
thousand tourists from home and abroad.
Local travel agencies also launched five tour routes in the
region, for tourists to enjoy unique winter scenery there. Tourists
can have access to scenic spots in Kashgar, Tianshan and Turpan,
and some can be seen for free.
Xinjiang, an ancient communications center on the ancient Silk
Road, has a long history of sporting on ice and snow. All kinds of
recreation activities in a snow world always fascinate local
citizens. Altay Prefecture is regarded as the cradle of traditional
Chinese skiing. In the past, because of poor transportation
facilities, the development of local tourism in winter always
stagnated. Local government has invested a lot of money on
infrastructures in recent years, to promote tourism industry.
The 2006 Silk Road Snow and
Ice Festival was opened in Urumqi's Red Hill Park, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous
Region on Wednesday. Local
officials hope this year's festival can boast tourism industry in
Xinjiang.
(Chinanews.cn December 22, 2006)
