View of the Guozigou tourist site in the Huocheng district, in the Ouïgoure autonomous region of Xinjiang (north-west of China), May 1, 2025. (Photo: Jia Zhao)
The Ouïgoure autonomous region of Xinjiang (northwest of China), has unveiled six new scenic roads, investing 10.7 billion yuan (approximately 1.5 billion dollars) to develop 965 km of roads focused on tourism.
These roads connect various landscapes, from the snowy mountains to the meadows, including forests, lakes, deserts and oases, and aim to improve the transport network of the region “fast entrance, slow trip” and to enrich the experiences of traveling by automobile, according to the regional transport department.
The newly built highways are designed to link the main attractions through the vast territory of Xinjiang, where destinations are often very dispersed, the department said.
The Xinjiang has intensified its efforts to build a multidimensional transport network in recent years. In addition to highways, the region has widened air roads, launched specialized rail circuits such as the Taklamakan desert loop, and developed emblematic tourist roads.
