URUMQI, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- A team of nine herdsmen in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region started a journey of 300-kilometer skiing Saturday with ancient fur snowboards.

The fur snowboards, which are made of pine wood and horsehide, have a history of more than 10,000 years.

The herdsmen, who are from the prefecture of Altay, will travel about 300 kilometers in mountainous regions in ten days with the route of over 100 kilometers being in uninhabited area.

Altay is believed to be one of the places in which skiing is originated, where an ancient rock paint depicting people hunting with the fur snowboards was found, dating back more than 10,000 years.

The journey aims to promote the preservation of the fur snowboards as an ancient heritage and the development of winter sports in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, said Ma Liqin, leader of the team.