Xinjiang Launches 15 Day Special Train Travel

China's Xinjiang/UNSPLASH/Smen's ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - Xinjiang launched a tour package using a special 15-day train to enjoy the natural scenery in China's southwestern region, where the majority of its population is set in the Uighur Muslim ethnic minority.

"To meet the needs of passengers who want to travel around Xinjiang by train, we are improving the service of the 'Tianshan' tourist train," said Deputy General Manager of Xinjiang Railway Tourism Development Group Co Ltd, Huang Tingfen, quoted by ANTARA from local media, Saturday, May 6.

The name "Tianshan" pinned to the series of special tourist trains is taken from the name of the very popular mountain in the province-level autonomy area with the largest area on the mainland of China.

By boarding the train, tourists can visit tourist attractions in the northern, southern, and eastern regions of Xinjiang.

"The passengers can travel and relax on the train which we complete with a special massage room. We did build this train as a home for tourists," Huang.

The tourist train was first dispatched from Urumqi Station in the capital of the Xinjiang Autonomous Region on Monday (1/5).

There were 200 tourists who boarded the train to surround Xinjiang from Urumqi, Beitun, Yining, Turban, Aier, Kashgar, to Hami.

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The train stopped at several stations located at interesting tourist attractions.

"Thus, tourists will not miss important objects during their journey," Huang said.

Local railway authorities have designed 10 packages of special tourist train travel in Xinjiang that are scheduled for each holiday season differently.

During the International Labor Day holiday season from April 28 to May 3, 2023, Xinjiang received more than eight million tourist visits, an increase of 140.81 percent compared to the same period in 2022.

Of the total visits, Xinjiang managed to pocket 6 billion yuan or around Rp. 12.7 trillion, an increase of 192.18 percent, according to data from the local Department of Culture and Tourism.