Long before chairlifts, groomed pistes, and carbon-fiber skis, hunters in the Altay Mountains of northern Xinjiang were gliding across deep winter snow on planks wrapped in horsehide. Archaeological evidence suggests people here were skiing as far back as 10,000 to 12,000 years ago, which is why Altay is widely promoted as the birthplace of skiing. For travelers, this heritage is not a museum footnote — it is a living tradition you can still watch, touch, and even try during a winter trip. This guide explains the history behind Altay’s famous claim, how traditional fur skis are made, and how to weave the cultural experience into a modern Xinjiang skiing itinerary.
Why Altay Is Called the Birthplace of Skiing
The claim rests on a remarkable piece of archaeology. In a cave at Dundebulake, near Handegate Township in Altay Prefecture, researchers documented rock paintings that appear to show human figures sliding on long boards with poles in hand, pursuing wild animals. Chinese and international scholars who studied the site argue the paintings could be over ten millennia old, predating ski artifacts found in Scandinavia and Russia.
In 2015, a group of historians and ski researchers from eighteen countries signed the Altay Declaration, acknowledging the region as one of the most credible candidates for the origin of skiing. While academic debate continues — dating rock art precisely is notoriously difficult — the combination of cave paintings, an unbroken local skiing tradition, and written references in ancient Chinese texts makes Altay’s case unusually strong. Sui and Tang dynasty chronicles describe northern tribes here as “wooden-horse riders” who chased game across the snow on boards, a poetic but unmistakable description of skiing. For deeper background on how this story fits into the wider national picture, see our history of skiing in Altay.
What Traditional Fur Skis Look Like
Traditional Altay skis — locally called chana — are strikingly different from anything in a modern rental shop:
- Hand-carved wooden core: Craftsmen split local spruce or birch, then shape each plank by eye with an axe and drawknife. A typical ski is 160 to 220 cm long and much wider than a cross-country ski.
- Horsehide base: The signature feature. Skin from a horse’s lower leg is stretched and nailed around the base with the hair angled backward. The hairs glide forward smoothly but grip the snow when pushed backward — the same principle as modern climbing skins.
- Upturned tip: The tip is softened in boiling water or over steam, then bent and lashed into a curve so the ski rides over powder instead of diving.
- Simple leather bindings: Loops of rawhide hold soft felt boots. There is no release mechanism; skiers rely on balance and low speeds.
- Single wooden pole: Instead of two poles, riders carry one stout staff used for pushing, steering, and braking, held like a rudder between the legs on descents.
The genius of the design is its versatility. Hunters could climb hills without slipping, travel long distances across flat valleys, and descend confidently — an all-terrain touring setup created thousands of years before alpine touring bindings existed.
The Living Tradition: Fur Skiing Today
What separates Altay from other candidate “cradles” of skiing is continuity. In villages around Hemu, Kanas, and the remote valleys of Altay Prefecture, elderly Tuvan and Kazakh craftsmen still make fur skis each autumn, and younger villagers race on them each winter.
Annual fur ski races
Every January, Altay hosts traditional fur skiing races where competitors in fur hats and felt boots sprint up and down open slopes on handmade skis. The races are usually tied to regional winter festivals, with horse-drawn sleigh rides, archery, and Kazakh music rounding out the program. Dates shift year to year, so check locally or ask your hotel in Altay City once you arrive.
Village demonstrations
In Hemu Village, local guides organize small demonstrations where a craftsman shows how horsehide is stretched over the base and lets visitors shuffle a few meters on finished skis. It is harder than it looks — the single-pole technique takes real practice — but it is one of the most memorable photo moments in Xinjiang.
Museums and cultural centers
Altay City’s regional museum displays antique fur skis, hunting tools, and reproductions of the Dundebulake rock art. It makes an excellent half-day stop when weather closes the mountain or when you need a rest day between resort sessions.
How to Experience Fur Skiing Heritage on a Ski Trip
Most travelers combine the cultural side of Altay with lift-served skiing, since the region’s modern resorts sit close to the heritage sites. Here is a simple framework:
- Days 1–3: Modern skiing. Base yourself at General’s Mountain (Jiangjunshan) beside Altay City for night skiing and convenience, or head to Koktokay for big-mountain terrain. Both appear in our roundup of Xinjiang ski resorts.
- Day 4: Heritage day. Visit the Altay museum in the morning, then arrange a fur ski demonstration through a local operator in the afternoon. January visitors should target the traditional race days.
- Days 5–6: Village immersion. Transfer to Hemu or Kanas for snow-covered log cabins, Tuvan home visits, and gentle backcountry slopes where locals still ski on chana.
If your dates are flexible, aim for mid-January: snow quality is at its peak, the festival calendar is busiest, and the larch forests around Hemu are at their photogenic best. Booking a driver-guide who speaks English through your hotel is the easiest way to reach demonstration villages, as public transport into the smaller valleys is minimal in winter. Pairing the heritage sites with a broader itinerary of cultural experiences around Xinjiang’s ski areas turns a standard resort week into something genuinely distinctive.
Practical Tips for Heritage Visits
- Dress warmer than for resort skiing. Demonstrations involve a lot of standing around at -20°C or colder. Bring a down parka, insulated boots, and chemical hand warmers.
- Ask before photographing craftsmen. Most are happy to pose, but a friendly gesture and a purchased souvenir go a long way.
- Buy small, not big. Full-size fur skis are awkward to fly home; miniature souvenir versions are sold in Altay City and Hemu.
- Hire a local interpreter. The best stories — hunting tales, family ski-making lineages — only surface when someone can translate Tuvan or Kazakh anecdotes.
- Respect the artifacts. Rock art sites are protected; never touch or wet the paintings, and visit only with an authorized guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Altay really the birthplace of skiing?
It is one of the strongest candidates. The Dundebulake cave paintings may be over 10,000 years old, and the 2015 Altay Declaration signed by researchers from eighteen countries recognized the region’s claim. Scandinavia and the Altai regions of Russia also hold early evidence, so scholars frame Altay as a — possibly the — cradle of skiing.
Can tourists try traditional fur skis?
Yes. Demonstrations in Hemu Village and around Altay City often let visitors try a few steps on flat snow. Expect it to feel wobbly; locals grow up with the single-pole technique.
When are the traditional fur skiing races held?
Usually in January, tied to Altay’s winter festival calendar. Exact dates vary each year, so confirm locally or through your hotel a few weeks ahead.
Where can I see ancient ski rock paintings?
The originals at Dundebulake require permits and an authorized guide, but high-quality reproductions are displayed at the Altay regional museum, which is much easier to visit in winter.
How do fur skis compare to modern skis?
Fur skis are wider, heavier, and slower, but they climb hills without extra gear thanks to the directional horsehide base — the ancestor of modern climbing skins used in backcountry touring.