Since Beijing and Zhangjiakou jointly won the bid to host the Winter Olympics, the number of skiers in China has increased by 30% annually in recent years. Various regions have been actively building modern ski resorts, and public demand for winter sports has grown stronger. As winter sports gradually become a focal point of national attention, the artificial snow and man-made slopes at ski resorts can no longer satisfy people’s craving for thrilling rides, and the exploration of top ski destinations has never ceased.
The Altay region in Xinjiang is considered one of the earliest birthplaces of human skiing, with ancient rock paintings from ten thousand years ago depicting people on skis. The area boasts abundant ice and snow tourism resources, and outdoor activities such as skiing are an important part of local life. The ancient fur and wooden board skiing is one of the distinctive features of skiing in Altay, a tradition that has been passed down through the ages.
To unveil this untouched winter skiing paradise to all ski enthusiasts, five friends who love road trips and wild snow adventures set off from Urumqi, driving a brand-new Audi A4 allroad quattro for 1,000 kilometers to reach the far northwest of China. There, they attempted to fulfill their dream of climbing a snow-capped peak in the Kanas area with a vertical drop of over 2,000 meters and then skiing down. Joining them were the finest local Tuvan indigenous people, who follow the ancient tradition of fur and wooden board skiing. After a 5,000-kilometer journey across northwestern China, a 500-kilometer trek along snowy mountain roads along the border, scaling snow-capped peaks with a vertical drop of over 2,000 meters, and 14 days and nights speeding through snowy forests, they captured this snow-covered land through their lenses.
It is reported that the microfilm "Adventure in Altay's Wild Snow" will premiere on March 4, 2017, at the MJia Joy Cinema in Sanlitun, Beijing. Produced by Sports Media and sponsored throughout by the Audi brand, whose powerful off-road capability and long-distance travel comfort served as a strong backing for this dream-chasing journey in northern Xinjiang, the film authentically showcases the breathtaking icy landscapes and extreme ski runs of Altay — China’s premier wild snow destination. It captures the exciting collision between modern skiers and ancient wooden boards, recreates the rare sight of the Mongolian Tuvan people gliding through vast forests on fur skis, and, although the Altay region continues to develop economically, the thick mountain snow in winter remains unchanged. The primitive ski boards used by locals as winter transportation have been preserved over time, giving Altay’s skiing culture deep historical and cultural roots.
Tracing the footsteps of wild snow and exploring ancient skiing traditions, the microfilm "Adventure in Altay's Wild Snow" may be the most beautiful and untamed video ever made about winter in northern Xinjiang.