STORY: Faces of China: Xinjiang designer promotes hometown with snow-themed mascot
SHOOTING TIME: Recent footage
DATELINE: Feb. 18, 2025
LENGTH: 00:02:55
LOCATION: URUMQI, China
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Altay
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): ALSBEK NUHAN, Designer
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): ALSBEK NUHAN, Designer
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): ALSBEK NUHAN, Designer
5. various of the mascot
6. SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): LI ZHUO, Ski enthusiast
7. SOUNDBITE 5 (Chinese): ALSBEK NUHAN, Designer
8. SOUNDBITE 6 (Chinese): ALSBEK NUHAN, Designer

STORYLINE:

A designer in northwest China's Xinjiang has been promoting the winter charm of his hometown with a lovable snow monster mascot.

Born in Altay to a Kazakh herder family, Alsbek Nuhan majored in animation at the Beijing Film Academy. 

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): ALSBEK NUHAN, Designer
"I learned that the government has training programs for ethnic minorities across different regions, allowing Xinjiang students to apply to certain schools. When I saw that the Beijing Film Academy offered opportunities for animation studies, I was immediately drawn to it and was fortunate to get enrolled."

After returning to his hometown in 2016 to focus on making animated films, Alsbek Nuhan was invited in 2018 to design a mascot for the 13th Xinjiang Winter Tourism Industry Trade Expo. 

That's when A-le, the snow monster, came to life.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): ALSBEK NUHAN, Designer
"At the time, no one knew what images of the mascot could be created. A tourist described Altay as a place full of fairytale-like wonder. I was suddenly inspired by the word of fairytale."

The mascot A-le became an instant hit at the expo, drawing crowds eager for photos.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): ALSBEK NUHAN, Designer
"This mascot is Altay's snow-themed symbol. It's pure white, representing our region's snow. Its ears resemble fur skis but also look like rabbit ears, giving its plump body a sense of agility. To me, this figure embodies the Altay people."

SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): LI ZHUO, Ski enthusiast
"I just love this kind of fluffy toy. I'd buy one more!"

Over the past seven years, Alsbek Nuhan has developed more than 80 different A-le products.

He is also working on A-le comics and animations in the hope of taking Altay's snowy charm even further.

SOUNDBITE 5 (Chinese): ALSBEK NUHAN, Designer
"I studied animation, but now I'm trying to become a product designer. I love challenges. I will try to learn despite it's something new to me. I couldn't do 3D modeling before, but I taught myself 3D software and sculpting. In the future, I even want to try making music."

SOUNDBITE 6 (Chinese): ALSBEK NUHAN, Designer
"A-le carries the responsibility of telling the story of Altay to the world. Holding our traditional fur skis, he proudly and warmly welcomes ski enthusiasts from all over the world to Altay."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Urumqi, China.
(XHTV)