Xinjiang Ski resort

A practical, first-person guide to visiting frozen Sayram Lake in winter — the drive over Guozigou, what the ice actually looks like, and how to combine it with skiing nearby.

A first-person account of skiing and winter travel at Nalati grassland in Xinjiang’s Ili valley — what the famous summer meadow looks like under snow, where to ride, and the honest trade-offs.

A first-person, safety-first primer on off-piste and backcountry skiing in Xinjiang — the terrain, the snow, the real risks, and how to start without becoming a statistic.

After skiing across the region for years, here is my honest ranking of Xinjiang’s ski resorts — by terrain, snow, crowds, and the small details that actually matter on a ski trip.

When the lakes freeze, Xinjiang opens a second sport. I traded the lifts for a frozen lake for a day — here is where to skate, what to rent, and how cold-safe it really is.

Qinggil County sits in far northern Altay, a stone’s throw from Mongolia. I spent a week there in February. Here is what winter actually looks like, how to reach it, and where the nearest real skiing is.

The Silk Road International Ski Resort is the closest big mountain to Urumqi. Here is how a day there actually feels, what it costs, and who it suits.

An hour or two north of Urumqi, the Gurbantunggut Desert wears a thin coat of snow that most skiers never see. I made it a half-day reset between resort runs, and it changed how I plan rest days on a long trip. Here is how to get there and what to expect.

Ulugqat sits at the far western edge of Xinjiang, where the Pamir meets the mountains of Central Asia. I spent a winter week there chasing quiet, Kyrgyz hospitality, and a slope almost nobody skis. Here is the real picture, including the hard limits and the terrain you can actually ski.

Wucaitan (Colorful Beach) is a frozen, multicolored bluff line above Burqin — the last stop before Altay’s big snow. A winter photographer’s and skier’s gateway notes.