Natural beauty, varied traditions, culinary delights attracting more visitors than ever

Villagers make musical instruments by hand in Jiayi village in Aksu prefecture in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region this month. About 120 people from the village make 20,000 traditional musical instruments annually. (WEI XIAOHAO / CHINA DAILY)

As summer sets in, tourists have begun flocking to southern Xinjiang to enjoy the region's unique atmosphere, born of its special location and culture.

In Kashgar, China's westernmost city, which enjoys up to 18 hours of sunshine during the summer, tourists wander the mazelike alleys of the Ancient Town, which dates back some 2,000 years. Immersing themselves in neighborhoods that are somewhat reminiscent of the Middle East, they can sample Uygur delicacies, which offer new taste experiences.

Statistics show that there were more than 8.6 million tourist visits to the city in the first six months of this year, an increase of more than 60 percent compared to 2019, while revenues also grew nearly 20 percent.

Children play at a homestay near the Dushanzi-Kuqa Highway in Kuqa, Xinjiang, this month. (WEI XIAOHAO / CHINA DAILY)

For self-driving tour enthusiasts, the Dushanzi-Kuqa Highway, which winds through the Tianshan Mountains that separate northern and southern Xinjiang, is a must-see. Due to erratic weather conditions in winter, the road is only open to the public during the summer, but that only increases the desire to take advantage of the opportunity to drive this beautiful road.

Hailed by many as one of the most beautiful highways in China, it zigzags through snow-capped mountains and deep valleys, across rivers, grasslands, forests and deserts, with reddish, striped Danxia and wind-carved Yardang landforms adding to the natural splendor.

The Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region has been investing in tourism infrastructure in recent years, with homestays, orchards and ancient cultural sites developed along routes. According to the government report delivered by Shokrat Zakir, chairman of the region, Xinjiang aims to welcome 400 million tourist visits annually by 2025.

A couple takes wedding photos in the Ancient Town of Kashgar, Xinjiang, this month. (WEI XIAOHAO / CHINA DAILY)

Rainbows appear along the Dushanzi-Kuqa Highway in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region this month. The 561-kilometer-long highway winds through the Tianshan Mountains and is a shortcut between northern and southern Xinjiang. (WEI XIAOHAO / CHINA DAILY)

Dancers perform for tourists at the Apak Hoja Mazzar, or the Tomb of the Fragrant Imperial Concubine, in Kashgar, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, this month. (WEI XIAOHAO / CHINA DAILY)

A chef makes barbecue in Shaya county, Xinjiang, this month. (WEI XIAOHAO / CHINA DAILY)

Children play at an urban park in Kashgar, Xinjiang, this month. (WEI XIAOHAO / CHINA DAILY)

Folk artists perform at a tea house in the Ancient Town of Kashgar, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, this month. (WEI XIAOHAO / CHINA DAILY)