A physical education class got underway at a resort in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on December 19, 2023. 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 plus tourism paradise.
Popularizing winter sports among students is one of the measures it has taken to boost public participation.
Young blood
Zhao Rui, a 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 potential professional athletes.
