Direct answer: for the 2026-27 season, a day lift ticket at Altay’s three principal ski resorts costs CNY 260 to CNY 399. Jiangjunshan sells a CNY 260 weekday beginner-area pass and a CNY 310 weekday whole-mountain pass; Koktokay sells a CNY 260 premium-period magic-carpet pass and a CNY 360 premium-period intermediate/advanced pass; Jikepulin above Hemu sells a CNY 280 magic-carpet pass and a CNY 399 intermediate/advanced pass on both weekdays and weekends. These are day-session lift tickets in Chinese yuan and exclude ski equipment. Source: 2026-27 operator price card, compiled 5 November 2026. Operating hours, opening and closing dates, and open terrain are determined by each resort’s official announcements.
Quick reference
| Item | Jiangjunshan | Koktokay | Jikepulin (Hemu) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Name on English maps | Jiangjunshan | Koktokay (Keketuohai) | Jikepulin |
| Location logic | At Altay city | Via Fuyun, Koktokay town | Toward Hemu village |
| Who it suits | First-timers, night-skiing | Intermediate progression, long season | Big-mountain skiing, resort holiday |
| Beginner day ticket | CNY 260 (weekday, beginner area) | CNY 260 (premium period, magic carpet) | CNY 280 (weekday/weekend, magic carpet) |
| Advanced day ticket | CNY 310 (weekday, whole mountain) | CNY 360 (premium period, intermediate/advanced) | CNY 399 (weekday/weekend, intermediate/advanced) |
| Where to stay | Altay city | Koktokay town | Hemu village or slope-side hotel |
| Dining | Many city restaurants | Town restaurants, hotel | Hemu restaurants, hotel |
| Signature experience | City night skiing, sunsets | High-alpine pistes, long snow season | Large vertical drop, Hemu views |
| Transfer caveat | Short in-town transfer | Confirm shuttle times | Allow time for mountain roads |
How to read the price structure
The card defines two ticket tiers at each resort, and the qualifiers attached to each tier are as important as the number. At Jiangjunshan both prices are weekday rates, and the CNY 310 product is explicitly a whole-mountain pass — an unusually small premium over its own beginner ticket. At Koktokay both prices are premium-period rates, with the premium windows defined as 1 November to 22 December 2026 and 4 January to 4 February 2027. At Jikepulin both prices apply on weekdays and weekends, which is the only weekend-inclusive published rate in this comparison.
This matters for trip planning because the three resorts are not priced on a common basis. A Saturday skier cannot assume Jiangjunshan’s CNY 310 applies; a late-December skier cannot assume Koktokay’s CNY 360 applies; and a Jikepulin weekend ticket is not a surcharge. Always verify the rate for the specific date.
Jiangjunshan: the city resort
Jiangjunshan’s defining characteristic is that it sits at Altay city. Transfers are in-town and short, accommodation is in the city, and the card notes that food and supplies are easy — the widest restaurant choice of the three. Its signature experience is city night skiing and sunsets, which lets a traveller ski after an arrival day rather than losing the day to a transfer. For a first Xinjiang winter trip, this combination is the lowest-risk way to start.
For beginners, the CNY 260 weekday beginner-area pass is the correct purchase. For anyone comfortable on blue terrain, the CNY 310 weekday whole-mountain pass represents the strongest value-per-lift in the prefecture. Our separate Jiangjunshan 2026-2027 opening and lodging report covers season timing and where to stay near the slopes; this page is confined to ticket structure.
Koktokay: the long-season mountain
Koktokay is reached via the Fuyun direction, with visitors staying in Koktokay town. The card’s instruction is to confirm the shuttle and its timetable, because the transfer — not the lift — determines how much of the day you actually get on snow. Dining is town restaurants and hotel dining, more limited than Altay city but adequate for a training-focused stay. Its defining experience is high-alpine pistes and a long snow season, which is why early-season and late-season trips concentrate here.
The Keketuohai/ Koktokay area is a well-documented destination beyond skiing; our Koktokay-area coverage and Burqin County guide place it in the wider northern Xinjiang corridor. For readers planning a longer loop, route planning across northern and southern Xinjiang is the relevant companion piece.
Jikepulin: the big-mountain option
Jikepulin above Hemu carries the highest prices in the comparison and the most demanding logistics. The card advises allowing generous time for the mountain-road transfer toward Hemu, and recommends either Hemu village accommodation or a slope-side hotel with ski-in, ski-out access. Dining is Hemu restaurants and hotel dining. Its signature experience is large vertical drop and Hemu mountain views — a genuine ski-holiday proposition rather than a day trip from Altay city.
The CNY 399 intermediate/advanced ticket and CNY 280 magic-carpet ticket are published for weekdays and weekends. That makes Jikepulin the practical choice for travellers whose itinerary only permits a weekend on snow, provided they have based themselves in Hemu. Paying CNY 399 for a single rushed afternoon after a long mountain drive is the one combination we would not recommend.
Geography and season context
All three resorts lie within Altay Prefecture in northern Xinjiang, in the Altai mountain system that also holds the Kanas and Hemu valleys. Background on the prefecture’s geography is available from Altay Prefecture, and national-level reporting on the growth of winter tourism in the region is carried by China Daily Travel. Weather and cold-front timing should be checked against China’s public weather service before any mountain-road transfer; wind holds and road conditions affect whether a purchased ticket can be used at all.
Practical notes
- Equipment is excluded. Every price above is a day lift ticket only. Budget separately for skis, boots, poles, helmet and lessons.
- Tickets are not interchangeable. There is no shared Altay pass in the published 2026-27 card, and the resorts are far enough apart that combining two in one day is unrealistic.
- Verify open terrain. Opening hours, opening and closing dates, and which lifts and runs are open are set by resort announcements.
- Match lodging to the mountain. Altay city for Jiangjunshan, Koktokay town plus a confirmed shuttle for Koktokay, Hemu village or slope-side for Jikepulin.
- Confirm the date class. Weekday, premium period, and weekend-inclusive rates differ by resort.
FAQ
How much do Altay ski lift tickets cost in 2026-27?
Day lift tickets range from CNY 260 to CNY 399. Beginner or magic-carpet passes are CNY 260 at Jiangjunshan and Koktokay and CNY 280 at Jikepulin; advanced or whole-mountain passes are CNY 310, CNY 360 and CNY 399 respectively.
Which resort is best for beginners?
Jiangjunshan, because it sits at Altay city with short transfers, offers the cheapest beginner pass, and has the widest choice of food and supplies.
What are Koktokay’s premium-period dates?
1 November to 22 December 2026 and 4 January to 4 February 2027. Its CNY 260 and CNY 360 rates are quoted for those windows.
Are Jikepulin tickets valid at weekends?
Yes. Both the CNY 280 magic-carpet ticket and the CNY 399 intermediate/advanced ticket are published for weekdays and weekends.
Is equipment included in the lift ticket?
No. The price card states these are day-session lift tickets and do not include ski equipment.
Can I visit two resorts on one ticket?
No. Each resort issues its own day pass, and the distances — particularly the mountain road toward Hemu — make a two-resort day impractical.
A note on accuracy
Ticket tiers and prices above reflect the 2026-27 season price card as compiled on 5 November 2026. Prices are in Chinese yuan for day sessions only, exclude equipment, and may vary by date class. Operating hours, opening and closing dates, and open areas are subject to each resort’s official announcement. Treat the figures as planning guidance and confirm current arrangements with the operator before purchase; regional context from China Daily Travel and China’s weather service is useful background, not an authoritative price source.
About the author: Karl Huang writes practical destination guides for northern Xinjiang based on repeated overland trips through the Altay region. He is not affiliated with any ski resort, hotel or tour operator, and receives no commission on ticket sales.
