Tourism on track as rail network develops

Railway authorities in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region will provide a larger number of services to connect multiple tourist attractions and meet rising demand from visitors wanting to travel around the region by train.

From January to October, 1,560 tourist train services ran in the region, carrying more than 720,000 passengers, including 169 trains that traveled from other provinces to Xinjiang, according to China Railway Corp's bureau in Urumqi, the regional capital.

The rail service aims to provide travelers with more convenience. The region's scenic spots are separated by long distances, so the timetables are designed to link them, said Huang Tingfen, deputy manager of Urumqi International Tourism Co. "When the trains reach each station, buses are on hand to take passengers to the scenic sights and return them to the trains at the required time to leave for the next destination," he said.