Most foreign skiers fly into Altay for the powder and then leave without ever hearing the name Fuhai. That is a small shame, because this quiet county an hour south of the city turns its frozen lake into one of the warmest, most local winter parties in northern Xinjiang. If you are building an Xinjiang ski trip, a two-day stop in Fuhai gives you ice fishing, open-air bonfires, cold-water fish you will not find at any resort buffet, and a genuine look at how the north lives through the deep cold. This guide covers what to do, when to go, how to get there, and how to slot Fuhai into an Altay ski itinerary without losing any slope time.
Why Visit Fuhai in Winter
Fuhai sits on the southern shore of Ulungur Lake (Wulungu Hu), the largest lake in northern Xinjiang and one of the region’s most important cold-water fisheries. When the lake freezes in late December, the county leans fully into its ice. The result is a low-key but genuinely local winter scene: fishing families cutting holes in the ice at dawn, steaming pots of lake fish at lunch, and children sliding on cleared lanes while swans and cranes wheel overhead. It is the opposite of a manicured ski resort, and that contrast is exactly why skiers like it as a rest-day outing. You come here to slow down, eat well, and watch a working winter rather than perform one.
The Ulungur Lake Winter Fishing Festival
The headline event is the Ulungur Lake Winter Fishing Cultural Tourism Festival, held each January on the Golden Coast (Huangjin Haian) section of the lake. The 19th edition, in January 2026, ran a main venue plus a branch venue at Golden Coast together with the nearby Jieteharele Town, and drew big crowds with a winter-swimming challenge, classic ice games, and a food market built around a giant “Fu Pot” of lake fish slow-cooked with Altay lamb. The festival is free to wander, and the atmosphere — equal parts county fair and ice carnival — is the main draw.
What Happens at the Festival
- Winter fishing demo — local crews drill and net fish through the ice the old way, then sell them straight from the hole while they are still flipping.
- Ice games — snowball fights, “ci liu” ice sliding, kettle-hole challenges, and dragon-boat races run right on the frozen surface.
- Evening fire party — a snow disco, bonfire circle, and intangible-heritage fire-pot performance light up the ice after dark.
- Food market — the “Fu Pot” of Ulungur cold-water fish and Altay lamb, plus dried-fruit snacks, grilled meats, and sweet fried dough.
Golden Coast and Sea Devil City Ice Scenery
Beyond the festival grounds, the Golden Coast scenic area is a calm place to walk the frozen shoreline and watch light shift across the ice, and the Ulungur Lake Sea Devil City (Hai Shang Mo Gui Cheng) — a wind-carved yardang landform on the lake’s edge — looks genuinely surreal under snow. Both are easy half-day outings and pair well with a Ulungur Lake winter fishing guide if you want the deep dive on the fishing tradition itself rather than just the festival weekend.
A Two-Day Fuhai Winter Itinerary
If you are skiing Altay and want a compact Fuhai add-on, this simple plan works well:
- Day 1 morning — ski a half day at an Altay-area resort, then drive south (about one hour) and check into Fuhai town.
- Day 1 afternoon — walk the Golden Coast shoreline and the Sea Devil City ice formations before sunset.
- Day 1 evening — dinner on grilled Ulungur fish and lamb, then the festival bonfire and fire-pot show if it is running.
- Day 2 morning — watch the ice fishing demo, try the ice games, and buy smoked fish to take home.
- Day 2 afternoon — drive back north to resume skiing, or continue toward Urumqi if you are leaving the region.
Pairing Fuhai with an Altay Ski Trip
Fuhai works best as a recovery or travel day between ski resorts. Altay city’s Jiangjun Mountain and the surrounding Xinjiang ski resorts are roughly an hour north, so you can ski a morning, drive down for an afternoon festival, and sleep warm in Fuhai town. Budget-wise, a Fuhai stop is cheap: the Golden Coast ticket starts around 35 yuan, and local guesthouses cost a fraction of resort hotels. See our Xinjiang ski trip cost breakdown for the full picture before you lock in dates.
Getting to Fuhai
Fuhai has a county airport with summer flights, but in winter most visitors arrive by road from Altay (about one hour) or Urumqi (about seven to eight hours by car). A private transfer or rental car is the simplest option if you are carrying ski gear, since public buses are infrequent in the off-season. The best window is late December through February, when the lake is frozen solid and the festival is running. Pack for real cold: open-ice wind is sharper than the resort base area, and the bonfire only warms one side of you at a time.
Where to Stay and Eat
Fuhai town has budget hotels and family guesthouses; book early if you visit during the festival weekend, because the county is small and rooms fill fast. Eat the lake above all else — grilled Ulungur fish, fish hotpot, and the lamb-fish “Fu Pot” are the signatures, and the cold-water fish has a clean, firm texture that travels badly and therefore tastes best exactly where you are standing. Carry some cash for small lakeside stalls, and ask about smoked and dried fish if you want a souvenir that survives the flight home.
Photography Tips for the Ice Festival
The festival is a gift for photographers if you plan around the light. Arrive mid-afternoon for the golden-hour shoreline, stay for the blue-hour bonfire and fire-pot performance, and bring a second battery because cold drains them fast. A short telephoto helps for the fishing demo and swans, while a wide lens captures the bonfire-to-stars transition on the ice. Respect the fishing families’ space, ask before photographing close portraits, and you will come away with some of the most human winter images in all of Xinjiang.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Ulungur Lake winter fishing festival?
It is held each January on the Golden Coast of Ulungur Lake, with the 19th edition running in January 2026 across a main and branch venue.
Is Fuhai a ski resort?
No. Fuhai is a winter travel and ice-festival destination on Ulungur Lake. The nearest skiing is about an hour north in Altay city and its surrounding resorts.
How do I get from Altay ski areas to Fuhai?
By road, roughly one hour south from Altay city. A private transfer or rental car is easiest if you have ski equipment with you.
What should I eat in Fuhai in winter?
Cold-water Ulungur fish — grilled, in hotpot, or in the festival’s lamb-fish “Fu Pot” — plus dried fruit and grilled meats at the lakeside market.
Can I visit Fuhai as a day trip from a ski resort?
Yes. Many skiers use Fuhai as a rest-day outing: ski a morning in Altay, drive down for the afternoon ice activities, and return or overnight in town.