Hitting road now more fun in Xinjiang

Long road trips between scenic spots in the vast Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region may have put many people off in the past, but the region has been attracting a record number of visitors who don't mind the drive now that roads have been significantly improved, local tourism officials said.

"We will build more service stops and camps to accommodate the needs of those who are on self-driving trips in Xinjiang," said Hou Hanmin, Party chief of the regional tourism development commission. "The current facilities are far from enough, as the number of people who take road trips in Xinjiang has continued to increase this year."

The commission has released 10 detailed routes in Xinjiang for people to follow while exploring the region at their own pace.