A total of 131 tourist spots have resumed operation in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region as the outbreak of the novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) in China shows good signs of being gradually controlled, the regional culture and tourism department said Friday, noting that tourists still need to follow the preventive measures like wearing facial masks, measuring body temperature and maintain a safe distance in the queues.  

As the snow season is not yet over, some ski resorts in Xinjiang have resumed operation. Jiangjunshan ski resort in Xinjiang's Altay has resumed operation with strict protective measures, including reservation of tickets and the use of ID card at the entrance. Meanwhile, the Silk Road International Ski Resort in Xinjiang has also resumed operation of its partial ski slopes, such as senior ski slopes and intermediate slopes.  

As one of the must-visit attractions in the region, the Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar, a contemporary shopping mall with products from Asia and Europe, has reopened to the public, with over 1,000 clothing and handcrafts stores and dining venues gradually resuming business. Besides, 29 parks, including Hongshan Park in the capital city of Urumqi, have also been reopened.  

Meanwhile, some scenic spots in Xinjiang set up visiting hours amid the epidemic prevention and control. The top-rated tourist attraction – Tianchi Lake has resumed operation, opening between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. every day, and daily number of tourists should not exceed 3,000. Except for special certificates, all visitors should reserve real-name tickets online.  

Other tourist sites including Xinjiang's Kumtag Desert and the Flaming Mountains have also resumed operation with strict measures to limit daily visitor numbers under half of the normal capacity.  

Xinjiang lowered its emergency response from the second level to the third starting from Sunday. In late February, it downgraded its emergency response to the second level.

With diverse ethnic culture and unique landscapes, Xinjiang has vowed to build itself into a popular destination for tourists from home and abroad. In the first 10 months of 2019, it received a record of 201.9 million tourists, up 42.62 percent year on year. 

(Cover: Tianchi Lake in Xinjiang. /VCG)