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Arid Land Geography ›› 2025, Vol. 48 ›› Issue (2): 212-222.doi: 10.12118/j.issn.1000-6060.2024.086

• Climatology and Hydrology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Spatio-temporal characterization of tourism climate comfort in Xinjiang prefectures and cities in the last 30 years

Jianiya YERKEN1,2(), HOU Jiannan1,2(), LIU Sibo1,2   

  1. 1. College of Geographical Science and Tourism, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi 830054, Xinjiang, China
    2. Xinjiang Laboratory of Lake Environment and Resources in Arid Zone, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi 830054, Xinjiang, China
  • Received:2024-02-08 Revised:2024-03-04 Online:2025-02-25 Published:2025-02-25
  • Contact: HOU Jiannan E-mail:jianiya066@163.com;houjiannan.xjnu@foxmail.com

Abstract:

Utilizing detailed climate data collected from 105 national meteorological observation stations in Xinjiang, China during 1990—2020, this study systematically evaluates the tourism climate comfort and comfort period across fifteen prefectural and municipal cities in Xinjiang. Three key indicators [the temperature and humidity index (THI), wind-cold index (WCI), and index of clothing (ICL)] were employed for the analysis. The findings reveal as follows: (1) The months with the highest tourism climate comfort in Xinjiang are primarily May, June, and September. (2) According to the comprehensive tourism climate comfort index, Hami City, Altay Prefecture, Bortala Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, and counties and cities directly under Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture and Kizilsu Kyrgyz Autonomous Prefecture exhibit an inverted U-shaped annual pattern. In contrast, Urumqi City, Karamay City, Shihezi City, Turpan City, Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, Bayingol Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, Tacheng Prefecture, Aksu Prefecture, Kashgar Prefecture, and Hotan Prefecture demonstrate an “M”-shaped pattern. (3) Analysis of the travel comfort period indicates that the southern border region enjoys the longest travel comfort period, followed by the northern border region, with the eastern border region having the shortest. Notably, Kashgar Prefecture and Hotan Prefecture have the longest comfort period, spanning March to October. However, the duration of the comfort period is not the sole determinant of tourist flow, as travel conditions may sometimes contradict comfort levels.

Key words: tourist climate comfort levels, spatial and temporal characteristics, temperature and humidity index, Xinjiang