Winter train tours a hit in Xinjiang

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At 7:54 p.m. on Monday, a rumbling train full of tourists departed from Urumqi for the otherworldly scenic spot of Kanas in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

The train, coded Y971, was the first "winter tour" train in Xinjiang this year. In recent years, winter entertainment facilities in the autonomous region have greatly improved, and local authorities are cashing in on the winter tourism business by launching seasonal train tours.

Winter scenery of Kanas in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on January 20, 2018. /VCG Photo

This year, four such train routes have already been implemented, and the trains take tourists to northern and southern Xinjiang, including the counties of Wenquan, Kuqa and Burqin.

"Kanas is beautiful in summer, but it looks even more amazing in winter," said a tourist aboard train Y971. "It is my first time to take a train to tour Xinjiang in winter and I have high hopes."

View of Kanas in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, October 2016. /VCG Photo

Hou Hanmin, in association with Xinjiang's tourism development commission, said the train tours will attract more visitors to experience activities such as hot springs and skiing.

Last year, there were almost 300 such trains in operation, five times the figure from 2016. About 400,000 tourists took trains to travel in Xinjiang during the last winter season. So far, more than 1,440 trains have been in operation this year.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency