Ahqy Sarsbek, an eighth grader at Miaoergou Middle School, takes a skiing class at the Silk Road Mountain Resort in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on December 19 (ZHANG XIAOMI)

A physical education class took place at a resort in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on December 19.

During the off-campus lesson, students from Miaoergou Middle School went skiing supervised by instructors working at the Silk Road Mountain Resort, a well-equipped skiing destination.

"I like skiing. In addition to learning it as part of our school curriculum, I often go skiing with my dad right here," Ahqy Sarsbek, an eighth grader from the Kazak ethnic group, said.

In recent years, Xinjiang has set a goal to become an ice and snow sports and tourism paradise. Popularizing winter sports among students is one of the measures it has taken to boost public participation.

Zhao Rui, a teacher at Miaoergou Middle School, told Beijing Review that every year, her school receives funding specifically for winter sports education. In her view, the benefits are manifold, such as improving students' physical wellbeing, building character and discovering aspiring professional athletes.

A trainer instructs Miaoergou Middle School students at the Silk Road Mountain Resort in Urumqi on December 19 (YAN WEI)

Like northeast China, Xinjiang in the northwest is located in a so-called golden latitude zone for ice and snow. This zone, comprising areas roughly located along the 45-degree north latitude, features world-renowned winter sports destinations such as the Alps and the Rocky Mountains.

Altay, the northernmost prefecture in Xinjiang, is recognized as the birthplace of skiing, the history of which can be traced back there 12,000 years. The regional capital of Urumqi, then, sits at the northern foot of the Tianshan Mountains, a mountain range that bisects Xinjiang, and boasts numerous attractions for skiers and tourists.

"We have established long-term partnerships with schools offering ice and snow courses in Urumqi," Huang He, Deputy General Manager of the Silk Road Mountain Resort, said. "We also offer student skiers special packages. These programs aim to motivate more young people to fall in love with winter sports."

An ice-skating class at Shuixigou Middle School in Urumqi in December (TANG YONG)

With a population of more than 25.8 million, Xinjiang is home to all 56 of China's ethnic groups. The four largest ones are the Uygur (11.6 million), the Han (10.9 million), as well as the Kazak and the Hui, each with a population upward of 1 million, according to official figures.

(Reporting from Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region)

Copyedited by Elsbeth van Paridon 　　

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