For a winter day that is more about otherworldly scenery than downhill runs, Urho winter travel deserves a place on your Xinjiang list. Urho District is part of Karamay City in northern Xinjiang, and its claim to fame is the World Ghost City (Shijie Mogui Cheng), a vast yardang landform of wind-carved rock towers that, after the first snow, turns into a silent “snow-white castle.” Urho has no large ski mountain of its own, but it pairs dramatic winter sightseeing with a standardized ice rink, a film-city replica set, and easy access to the real ski resorts of nearby Karamay and Urumqi. It is an ideal low-key stop for photographers and families who want snow without the ski-hill pressure, and it complements the broader skiing in Xinjiang picture.
Why Visit Urho in Winter
The Ghost City is a year-round attraction, but winter is when it changes character. After a snowfall the ochre rock towers are capped and lined with white, the layered shapes read more clearly against the bright sky, and the crowds thin out. Travelers consistently note that the “snow castle” version of the park feels calmer and more photogenic than the dusty summer version, and that a late-afternoon entry, when the low sun hits the rock, is the most striking window. As part of Karamay’s wider winter program, Urho also runs ice-skating events and keeps its scenic areas open through the cold months. If your main goal is downhill skiing, treat Urho as a sightseeing and skating add-on and use our Karamay ski resorts guide to plan the actual slopes nearby.
The World Ghost City in Snow
The World Ghost City (also called the World Devil City) is a protected yardang landscape of erosional rock pillars, castles, and animal-like shapes spread across the desert 200 Longji Road in Urho. In winter it typically opens from around 08:30 to 21:00, and the park has run a half-price ticket window from November through April 15, making the cold season the best-value time to visit. A small “snow train” (xue zhong xiao huoche) shuttles visitors between the main formations so you can cover the ground without fighting the wind, and drone footage of the white-capped towers is especially dramatic (follow on-site rules). Wear a bright down jacket for contrast shots, use the three-layer dress system, and pack sunglasses for snow glare. After the park, the nearby populus euphratica (hu yang) forest in rime is another quiet winter frame.
Photography & Timing Tips
Go right after a snowfall for the cleanest, most layered views, and aim for the golden hour before sunset when the rock glows. Bright clothing pops against the white and ochre, and a wide lens captures the scale of the towers. The wind can be strong, so secure hats and cameras, and keep a power bank handy since cold drains batteries fast. Many visitors combine the Ghost City with the film-city set (see below) in a single half-day.
Urho Ice Rink & Winter Sports
Urho builds a standardized ice rink for the season and has hosted events such as the 2026 “Ice Flying, Charming Urho” (Bing Shang Fei Yang, Mei Li Wu Er He) skating invitational, giving locals and visitors a proper place to skate, play ice games, and watch competitions. It is a family-friendly, low-cost activity that rounds out a winter day without needing ski gear. For travelers who want more than skating, the wider Karamay winter also offers ice parks and district rinks, and the city is a short drive from real downhill slopes. Our Xinjiang ice sports guide covers the region’s skating and ice disciplines in more depth.
Urho Film City
A few minutes from the Ghost City, the Urho Film City (Wu Er He Ying Shi Cheng) is a large replica-set township, best known as a shooting location for historical epics such as “The Qin Empire” (Da Qin Fu). In winter the faux city walls and gates wear a coat of snow, making it an easy place to stage “time-travel” photos without the summer heat and queues. The set is built at scale, with monumental gates, palace courtyards, and long streets you can walk end to end, so even a short visit yields a handful of dramatic frames. It pairs naturally with the Ghost City as a two-stop cultural half-day, and the contrast, a natural rock labyrinth followed by a human-built ancient city, is part of Urho’s appeal. Photographers often shoot the Ghost City at golden hour, then move to the film city for blue-hour and night portraits as the lamps come on.
What to Pack for the Open Land
Both the Ghost City and the film city are exposed, and the wind off the desert can be sharp in deep winter. Wear a windproof shell over your down, a warm hat that covers the ears, and gloves you can keep on while shooting. Bright colors stand out against the snow and ochre rock, and a small thermos of hot tea helps between locations. Because the sites are a few kilometers apart, a car or the local shuttle saves time and keeps you warm between stops.
Where to Actually Ski Nearby
Urho itself is a sightseeing and skating base rather than a ski resort, so plan your downhill days at the real mountains. Karamay City runs several slopes, including the Dushanzi district resorts covered in our Karamay ski resorts guide, and the bigger Urumqi resorts are within driving range for a day trip. Our Urumqi ski resorts guide maps the closest major hills, and our where to ski in Xinjiang guide helps you sequence Urho with the slopes around it.
Getting There, Food & Staying Warm
Urho is about a two-hour drive from Urumqi and sits on the G217, making it an easy break on a northern Xinjiang road trip, or a logical overnight between the Ghost City and a Karamay or Urumqi ski day. Stay in Karamay city or a Urho hotel, both of which offer heated rooms from around 150 yuan per person, and eat at city restaurants serving Xinjiang classics like hand-grabbed rice, roasted buns, and lamb noodles. Dress warmly, guard against wind at the open Ghost City, and keep hand warmers and a hat within reach. The best snow sightseeing window is late December through February, when the first snowfall has settled and the half-price ticket window is open. Pair Urho with a slope day using the Karamay and Urumqi resort guides above, and you get a balanced winter trip that mixes scenery, skating, and real skiing without spending every hour on a lift.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Urho have a ski resort?
No large ski mountain. Urho is a winter sightseeing and ice-skating base centered on the snow-covered Ghost City and a seasonal ice rink, with real downhill skiing available at nearby Karamay and Urumqi resorts.
When is the Ghost City cheapest to visit?
The park has run a half-price ticket window from November through April 15, so the winter season is typically the best-value time, with the snow adding a dramatic new look to the rock formations.
Can I skate in Urho?
Yes. Urho builds a standardized ice rink for the season and has hosted skating invitational events, making it a family-friendly winter activity alongside the sightseeing.
How long should I spend in Urho?
Most visitors spend half a day combining the Ghost City and the film city, or a full day if they add skating and a Karamay or Urumqi ski stop nearby.
Is Urho worth it if I only want to ski?
If skiing is your sole goal, Urho is a side trip rather than a destination. But as a scenic, photographic, and cultural break between slopes, it is a distinctive and low-cost winter experience.