Altay's wintertime play

The prefecture received nearly 15 million visits in the first nine months of this year, a nearly 50 percent increase over the same period last year. Tourism income also increased by about 50 percent to exceed 9.3 billion yuan ($1.4 billion) during the period.

Visitors aged 19 to 45 are a major demographic, Li says.

Women account for more than half of travelers.

Altay has launched winter tours featuring such activities as helicopter rides, fishing and folk sports.

The Altay Mountain Wild Snow Park lies about 20 kilometers from the city's downtown, and offers skiing and a helicopter experience that hovers over a 2,800-meter-high peak. It also offers wilderness hikes and horsedrawn sleigh rides.

Jiangjunshan Ski Resort - just over 1 km outside of town - offers 18 trails of various degrees of difficulty spanning 20 km in total. The International Ski Federation has certified some of its slalom trails.

Visitors can stay in Tuva people's traditional houses in Kanas.