Author: karl

Between storm cycles I swapped skis for a camel and crossed a snow valley the slow way. A look at winter camel treks near the resorts and why they pair well with skiing.

From a dawn-slope proposal to a small snow-bound ceremony, here is how couples are using Xinjiang’s winter scenery to get engaged and married — and what to plan.

You do not have to be twenty to ski Xinjiang. A practical, honest guide for travellers in their 60s and 70s — pacing, altitude, insurance, and which resorts are kindest.

Lantern Festival (Yuanxiao) lands mid-winter — and several Xinjiang resorts turn it into a torch-lit, dumpling-fuelled ski night. Here is how to catch it.

Can you DiDi to a Xinjiang ski resort? Sometimes. Here is when rideshare works, when it fails, what it costs, and the backup plans that saved my trips.

A skier’s eating guide to Xinjiang’s staple carbs — from tandir naan at 7am to a steaming bowl of laghman after the last run. What to order, what it costs, what to avoid.