Winter Heat in Xinjiang

December 24, Hami, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region: Dancers wait to perform at the 12th Barkol Ice, Snow, Cultural and Tourism Festival. Winter is becoming a popular time to visit Xinjiang, a region of China that borders Russia, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan and other countries. Drawn to its snow-capped mountains and diverse cultural attractions, more than 30 million tourists are expected to visit Xinjiang from November to April.

China’s 13th National Winter Games, held in Urumqi from January 20 to 30, provided a further boost to winter tourism.