Tourists can now enjoy a virtual tour along the Dushanzi-Kuqa Highway, one of China's most beautiful stretches of road, through a panoramic roaming system.

The highway, connecting Dushanzi District of Karamay City with Kuqa County, Akesu Prefecture, both in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, runs through glaciers, forests, grasslands, and various landforms. The road runs for more than 560 kilometers, with half of the distance at an elevation of over 2,000 meters.

After scanning the QR code, travelers will enter a virtual world with information about the road, such as attractions, service facilities, and updated traffic information. The system was launched by the Xinjiang's transport department.

The highway, which opened to traffice in 1983, is only open around five months every year due to harsh natural factors like snow and ice.

This year, Xinjiang upgraded the highway by increasing guard railings, installing netting for rockfall protection, adding more parking areas, viewing platforms, toilets, and garbage cans.