Hemu is a small village situated in Kanas Nature Reserve in Altay of northern Xinjiang. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Growing winter tourism has given the homestay business a shot in the arm in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

Diverse winter fun programs and more trains and flights have heated up the region's winter.

Local authorities now offer more than 130 tourism activities through March, and major scenic spots provide free or discounted skiing and dining tickets.

Approximately 2.1 million tourists visited the area during the recent three-day New Year's Day holiday, up 40.58 percent as compared with the same period in the previous year, the regional department of culture and tourism reported.

Tourism revenue was 1.69 billion yuan ($246 million), a year-on-year increase of 46.86 percent.

All of Xinjiang Trollflower Hotel's 20 rooms were booked during the New Year holiday.

"Tourists have increased a lot from the previous winter, and advance booking is required during the winter holidays," says Tang Qi, an employee with the Xinjiang Trollflower Travel Agency, which runs the homestay.

The agency has special winter activities almost every week, such as ski and bonfire parties.

Also, to let travelers better appreciate the local winter charm, Xinjiang Trollflower offers special tours that run from Beitun to Kanas and from Altay to Burqin to Kanas.

The Trollflower is just one of the local accommodation providers that have enjoyed the boon of emerging winter tourism.

Chi Binchang from the eastern Shandong province has also seen Xinjiang's tourism potential boom.

"In 2003, I was only meant to travel to Hemu village in Altay, and I never expected the beautiful scenery here would appeal to me so much," Chi tells China Tourism News.

But it didn't take long for Chi to decide to invest in the homestay business at Hemu.