Xinjiang routes tap mineral, tourism potential

URUMQI - Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region has invested heavily in road construction as part of a major effort to explore mineral extraction and tourism potential in its vast territory.

The region has already begun construction on 17 roads connecting Altay, Changji, Ili, Turpan and Kashgar so it can exploit abundant coal, crude oil, nonferrous metals and other mineral resources.

Among the projects is a 100-km expressway linking up with No 216 State Highway, the road connecting Altay to the regional capital Urumqi, as well as extensions of several provincial highways and an urban expressway in Urumqi, the regional transportation bureau said.