Altay City

The “birthplace of skiing”: Jiangjun Mountain ski resort on the edge of town, surrounded by the Keran River canyon and birch forests, a small northern Xinjiang city made famous by “My Altay”.

Altay City is the seat of Xinjiang’s Altay Prefecture, on the southern slopes of the Altai Mountains where the Keran River leaves the mountains. It is a small northern Xinjiang city surrounded by mountains, river and birch forests, and became popular through Li Juan’s essays and the TV series “My Altay”. It has two calling cards. One is winter snow: Jiangjun Mountain ski resort on the edge of town is a 10-minute taxi ride away, the Yeka Gorge backcountry ski area lies deep in the Altai to the north, and the “ski hunting” images in the rock art of Dundebulak Cave at Handegat have earned the area the title “birthplace of skiing”. The other is summer and autumn mountains and rivers: the Keran River runs through town, and the Keran Grand Canyon in the north, Xiaodonggou and the Birch Forest Park in town turn golden in late September, while Camel Peak overlooks the whole city. Best seasons: late November to April is snow season, with the best powder in January–February but temperatures often below −25°C; June–August is cool and pleasant; mid to late September to early October is golden birch season. Getting there: Altay Xuedu Airport has flights to Urumqi, Beijing, Shanghai and other cities, about 15 minutes from downtown; there are railway and expressway links from Urumqi to Altay. In town, walk or take a taxi; for sights outside, a chartered car or self-drive is recommended. Allow 1–2 days, and combine with Burqin’s Wucaitan, Kanas and Hemu to the west or Koktokay to the southeast to form an Altay loop. Notes: winters are bitterly cold and need professional warm gear, and mosquitoes are common in mountain areas in summer; some areas deep in the Altai are border management zones and require your ID card; ski-resort ticket prices and opening periods are as per official announcements.

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