Urumqi wins summer tourism

Urumqi has been the most popular destination for tourism in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region during this summer holiday, Urumqi Evening News reported, quoting data from an online travel booking service provider on Thursday.

According to the online travel agency Ctrip, as of Wednesday the top five most popular cities in Xinjiang this summer are Urumqi, Yining, Kashgar, Burqin and Turpan. Overall travel orders to Xinjiang between July 1 to August 31 rose by 126 percent year-on-year, with high-speed rail orders up by 188 percent and air ticket orders up by 66 percent.

Zhou Zhongdong, a homestay manager in Pingxiliang village, Urumqi county, said the popularity of summer tourism in Urumqi has been rising since July and his business has been heating up.

"Recently I have received many orders from other cities from mid-July to late July and some of them are students from other cities," Zhou added.

"My family has booked a group tour in Xinjiang for the middle of July. We are looking forward to this journey," said Wang Qi, a tourist from Shandong province.