Transportation is the fundamental support and prerequisite for the development of tourism, and tourism is an indispensable business domain for transportation. In recent years, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has been continuously deepening the integrated development of “transportation + tourism.” The distances between scenic spots have been shortened, visitors have more travel options, and the travel experience has become richer.

Xinjiang, which covers one-sixth of the country's land area, boasts a unique landscape of "three mountains surrounding two basins," creating a myriad of breathtaking landscapes. However, due to its vast expanse, the long distances between cities and scenic spots have long posed the challenge that tourists spend a long time on transportation during their journey in Xinjiang. For a tourist destination, both uniqueness and accessibility are crucial, because tourists expect to arrive and leave their travel destinations quickly and conveniently, while having plenty of leisure time to deeply experience local scenery, culture, and other tourism resources at the destination.

Focusing on these weak points, Xinjiang has been continuously improving its transportation infrastructure in recent years to provide visitors with a more convenient travel experience. It has been optimizing service guarantees to enhance tourists’ satisfaction during their journeys and promoting the integrated development of transportation and tourism to unlock more ways for tourists to enjoy their trips. The integrated development of "transportation + tourism" has provided a stronger impetus for the growth of Xinjiang's tourism industry.

Improving the transportation system has made travel more convenient in Xinjiang

“After witnessing the spectacular scenery of the "Ghost Town" in Urho District, Karamay City, I took a direct flight to Urumqi to experience the collision of diverse cultures at the Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar,” said Hu Xiaobo, a tourist from east China's Jiangxi Province.

The launch of short-haul transportation routes for tourist attractions has closely connected popular scenic spots with transportation hubs. The opening of these routes not only shortens the travel time for tourists but also enhances their travel experience.

Airports in Xinjiang are continuously optimizing their air networks and improving route layouts. By further increasing the frequency of direct flights to popular cities outside Xinjiang such as Chengdu, Xi'an, Zhengzhou, and Beijing, passengers from various prefectures can now fly directly to 41 cities outside Xinjiang without transferring in Urumqi. New flight connections have been established between cities in Xinjiang that host 5A-level tourist attractions, including Kashi, Korla, Turpan, and Karamay. This enhancement in aviation services, combined with tourism, has made it more convenient and efficient for travelers to reach their desired destinations.

"After getting off the plane in Altay, my family and I discussed for a long time whether to take a passenger train to enjoy the scenery along the way or to rent a car for self-driving travel. In the end, we chose to drive to experience the picturesque Altay-Hemu Highway," said Cheng Donglan, who runs a business in Urumqi. The Altay-Hemu Highway starts in Lasite Township, Altay City, passes through the Tuolehaite Grassland and ends at the Hemu scenic area. After its opening, the journey from Altay City to Hemu scenic area has been shortened from six hours to three hours.

In recent years, Xinjiang has been fully committed to building a modern transportation system. By the end of 2023, the total highway mileage in Xinjiang reached 227,900 kilometers (including 38,400 kilometers by Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps), and the railway operation mileage reached 9,525.6 kilometers. As of August 8 of this year, there are 26 officially operational civilian airports in Xinjiang. The improvement of the extensive transportation system has provided strong support for the high-quality development of Xinjiang's tourism industry.

Enhancing service guarantees for a warmer journey experience

“Previously, I only dared to drive my electric vehicle within the city limits. Now, I drive my electric vehicle for self-driving tours within Xinjiang, and it's very convenient to charge at the service areas along the highways, saving a considerable amount on fuel costs.” At the Wugongtai service area on the G30 Lianyungang-Horgos Expressway, car owner Tao Jingjing pluged in her vehicle for charging and then went inside the service area to rest.

At the beginning of 2023, the department of transportation of Xinjiang, in collaboration with relevant departments, issued a document regarding the construction of charging infrastructure along Xinjiang's highways. By the end of 2023, a total of 683 charging poles had been built across 105 pairs of expressway (first-class) service areas and 36 ordinary national and provincial highway service areas that met the conditions, achieving full coverage of charging facilities in expressway (first-class) service areas, with continuous increases in charging facilities at national and provincial highway service areas.

During this year's National Day holiday, the normal usage rate of the 683 charging piles along the region's highways reached 98.5 percent, providing a total of 37,625 charging services with an average charging time of 35 minutes.

In addition to enhancing the construction of transportation infrastructure in service areas, local authorities have also made significant strides in improving the quality of popular roads such as the Duku Highway and S101. On this basis, Xinjiang has opened its maintenance workshops along the highways for free to meet the basic needs of the public for services like parking and restrooms. This has successfully enabled the Duku Highway to open ahead of schedule on June 1 and delay closure until October 10, ensuring safe and orderly operation during this period.

Photo shows scenery of Duku Highway in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Tian Guojian)

"The overnight transit rest area signs are prominently placed, so you won't miss them. The area is open 24 hours for free, with WiFi coverage, and is well-equipped with drinking water machines, restrooms, and mobile power supplies. Passengers who need to overnight during transit can rest here," said Wei Xiang, a tourist flying directly from Altay to Urumqi, with a smile on his face.

As tourism, family visits, and business travel intersect and overlap, the more robust the travel demands, the more critical it is for service guarantees to keep up, ensuring that tourists and passengers feel convenience and warmth during their journeys. During the National Day holiday, Xinjiang's civil aviation also contributed to the integration of transportation and tourism, with continuously upgraded services such as overnight transit and fast security checks, providing tourists with a more convenient aerial passage.

These heartwarming measures are just a microcosm of Xinjiang's efforts to promote the integration of transportation and tourism and strengthen service. In recent years, departments such as transportation, railways, and civil aviation in Xinjiang have taken multiple measures to continuously improve service levels, creating a convenient and efficient environment for tourists to travel around Xinjiang.

Dense transportation network enriches tourism experience

With the interweaving of railways, highways, and air routes, Xinjiang is continuously enriching new tourism scenarios and formats, relying on a three-dimensional transportation network to promote the high-quality development of the tourism industry.

Diverse overseas tour routes have become popular among many travelers. At the Jeminay Port in Xinjiang, an international passenger bus just stopped after entering from Kazakhstan. A tourist, Li Jun, from north China's Shanxi, couldn't wait to get off the bus and take photos. Li Jun said that she traveled from Inner Mongolia to Xinjiang and arrived at the long-desired Altay, feeling the vastness of the motherland and the beauty of the landscape. By chance, she learned that she could experience outbound travel in Altay, so she and her friends added a new itinerary.

"We took the bus from Jeminay Port and went out of the country. It only costs 115 yuan to reach Zaysan in Kazakhstan, 60 kilometers away, and the customs procedures are simple and convenient," said Li Jun.

Convenient customs procedures, supporting transportation tools, and various visa-free policies have made cross-border travel one of the popular choices for many tourists. During this year's National Day holiday, the number of people and vehicles passing through Xinjiang's ports reached a historical high. As of 17:00 on October 7, Xinjiang's ports have inspected more than 48,000 inbound and outbound personnel, a year-on-year increase of 76.95 percent; and inspected 17,400 inbound and outbound transportation vehicles (trains, aircrafts), a year-on-year increase of 62 percent.

In August, an AC311A helicopter slowly took off near the Kunlun Tower, a landmark building in Xinjiang’s Kashi, adding a colorful touch to the integration of transportation and tourism. Yang Jian, chairman of Xinjiang General Helicopter Aviation Co., Ltd., said, "Tourists can take a helicopter to see the ancient city walls, scattered houses, and bustling markets, and enjoy the unique charm of the ancient city. In the future, low-altitude tourism projects will successively open more flight routes, allowing tourists to better experience the beautiful scenery of the whole area of Kashi."

In recent years, high-quality new products and scenarios of integrated transport and tourism have continuously emerged, enriching the tourism product system in Xinjiang and providing new ways of play for tourists. The integration of transportation and tourism in Xinjiang is continuously enhancing the attractiveness of Xinjiang's tourism products and promoting a higher level of resource sharing and mutual development outcomes between Xinjiang's transportation and tourism.

(Original source: Xinjiang Today, Reporter Ren Yawen)