The Duku Highway, renowned as "China's Most Beautiful Road," officially reopened for full traffic on June 1, marking the comprehensive start of Xinjiang's peak self-driving season.
Data from TONGCHENGTRAVEL (00780) shows that searches for the keyword "Duku Highway" surged 166% month-on-month following the reopening announcement.
Accompanying the reopening, various tourism booking metrics in Xinjiang have seen significant increases.
TONGCHENGTRAVEL data indicates that flight bookings to Urumqi Diwopu International Airport, Yining International Airport, and Kuqa Qiuci Airport in June have all risen by over 30% year-on-year.
The top 10 source provinces for tourists are Sichuan, Henan, Guangdong, Beijing, Shaanxi, Gansu, Shandong, Shanghai, Zhejiang, and Chongqing, highlighting strong inter-provincial travel demand and the highway's nationwide appeal.
The Duku Highway is significantly boosting regional cultural and tourism consumption.
For attractions, ticket booking interest for Nalati Grassland is up 37% year-on-year, Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon is up 32%, and Bayinbuluke Grassland is up 28%.
Bookings for core sites like Tuomuer Grand Canyon, Kalajun Grassland, and Dushanzi Grand Canyon have all increased by over 20% year-on-year.
For hotels, accommodation demand along destinations like Yili, Bayingolin, and Kuqa has been concentrated, with bookings for the past month up over 20% year-on-year as of June 1.
Many boutique homestays were fully booked in the first week of June, with numerous tourists securing reservations 5-10 days in advance to ensure arrival during permitted travel windows.
Concurrently, TONGCHENGTRAVEL data shows that as of June 1, SUV and off-road vehicle rental orders in Xinjiang for the past month have grown 25% year-on-year.
Tourists generally prefer more capable vehicles to handle the highway's complex conditions and tight schedules, ensuring a successful crossing within the allotted time.
Analysis indicates the Duku Highway's reopening has become a key engine for driving Xinjiang's summer self-drive tourism.
Its influence extends from the road itself to surrounding destinations, demonstrating a significant "one road opens, entire region heats up" effect.
While nightly traffic restrictions impose stricter daily itinerary planning, they also encourage tourists to slow down and deeply experience the scenery, thereby increasing overnight stays and per capita spending.
It is anticipated the Duku Highway will remain highly popular for the next one to two months, with recommendations for tourists to secure vehicle and accommodation resources early via platforms.
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