As spring temperatures rise and winter snowpack begins to melt across northern Xinjiang, the 2025-2026 snow season came to a festive close this weekend at Altay’s Jiangjunshan International Ski Resort, where hundreds of skiing enthusiasts gathered for the beloved annual tradition of pond skimming. A thrilling celebration of the season’s final days, the event invited participants of all skill levels to test their balance and courage gliding across an open pool of meltwater at the base of the resort’s slopes.
Event organizers carved out two separate courses to accommodate attendees of varying experience: a full 35-meter main track for seasoned thrill-seekers, and a shorter, gently sloped mini-track built specifically for first-time participants and beginners. On the main course, skiers pushed off from the top of the snow-covered slope, building speed as they descended before launching onto the surface of the pool, sending up plumes of water as they attempted to skim all the way across to the opposite bank. While some skilled skiers managed to glide the full distance without falling, many challengers lost their footing mid-crossing and plunged into the chilly water, emerging soaked, grinning, and eager to share photos of their playful mishaps with fellow attendees.
Mao Xiaoshuai, a visitor who traveled from the southwestern city of Chengdu, Sichuan province to join the event, described the experience as unforgettable. “Combining the speed of downhill skiing with the playful fun of splashing through water makes for a totally unique rush,” he explained in an interview on Sunday. “You get the best of both winter and early spring all in one run, and it’s the perfect way to let go of all the stress that’s built up over months of work.”
Over on the beginner track, organizers intentionally designed a gentler gradient to lower the barrier to entry, ensuring that even first-time skiers and families with young children could join in the fun without feeling intimidated. The welcoming atmosphere drew crowds of spectators who cheered on every participant, regardless of whether they made it across the pool or took an unexpected dip.
Jiangjunshan International Ski Resort will officially close its 2025-2026 snow season this coming Wednesday. Beyond the festive closing event, the resort celebrated a standout winter: official data shows the facility welcomed 1.3 million total visits over the past four months, marking a 46 percent jump compared to the previous winter season. The number of dedicated ski visits specifically rose even more sharply, hitting 870,000 — a 66 percent year-on-year increase that highlights Altay’s growing reputation as one of China’s top winter sports destinations.