Spectator sports are boosting cultural and tourism consumption, technology is empowering the development of the culture and tourism sector, and transportation is enriching cultural and tourism experiences. In recent days, Xinjiang's cultural and tourism systems have been advancing the integration of "culture and tourism + all industries" and "all industries + culture and tourism," effectively driving the development of sectors such as commerce, agriculture, and transportation. Culture and tourism have become an important engine for stimulating domestic demand across various industries and promoting socio-economic development.
Sporting events are driving cultural, tourism, and socio-economic development along their routes. Activities like receiving and controlling the ball, juggling with the toes, dribbling sideways, and skillful dribbling past opponents were on display. On April 18th, at the Changji Sports Center in the Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, a攻防演练 between the home team and the Turpan representative team was particularly exciting. With more than 20 days still to go before the league matches, the division of labor plan for the league (Changji赛区) organized by the Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture's Culture, Sports, Radio, Television, and Tourism Bureau had already been finalized. Supporting events included a series of activities such as the "Xinjiang Super" Food Carnival, intangible cultural heritage and creative exhibitions, and exclusive ticket stub discounts. The schedule for "Xinjiang Super + Culture and Tourism" was packed.
"In addition to customized cultural and tourism benefit packages for players, we have also developed premium 'Follow the Xinjiang Super Tour to Changji' routes for spectators and tourists. Those holding game tickets can participate in消费 promotion activities like hotel dining discounts,满减 promotions, and check-in stamp collection for rewards, aimed at stimulating cultural and tourism consumption potential," said Cao Qihu, a member of the Party group and Deputy Director of the Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture's Culture, Sports, Radio, Television, and Tourism Bureau.
The 2026 China环塔 International Rally is set to depart in May. Currently, the various prefectures and cities along the route have successively released a series of "culture and tourism +赛事" policies and activities. The Bortala Mongol Autonomous Prefecture is utilizing the upcoming环赛里木湖 Road Cycling Race to launch "Follow the Race to Travel" cultural and tourism routes and products. "Culture and tourism +赛事" and "赛事 + culture and tourism" have become important tools for promoting socio-economic development in the various prefectures and cities along the routes.
Technology is adding color to multiple cultural and tourism experiences. On April 19th, at the Urumqi Water Park under sunny skies, a "dance team" composed of robots and robotic dogs danced to the rhythm of "Spring Ballet." When the robots performed ballet spins and the robotic dogs expertly executed front and back flips, the audience erupted in gasps of amazement and applause. Since the beginning of this year, Urumqi Tianyao Weiye Information Technology Service Co., Ltd., which provides this performance technology, has been exceptionally busy.
"We currently have more than ten robots and robotic dogs, participating in over 20 events per month, with the majority being displays in cultural and tourism scenarios, including dance performances at various cultural tourism festivals this year and educational displays at schools," Feng Yangyang, Director of the company's Artificial Intelligence Business Department, told reporters.
The application scenarios for robots extend far beyond cultural and tourism performances. At the Urumqi Northwest Petroleum Hotel, robots have been developed into delivery robots. "When hotel guests order meals or takeout, they are delivered to the rooms by robots, offering timeliness and convenience along with a unique sense of warmth," said a staff member at the hotel.
Beyond robots, the application of technologies like VR (Virtual Reality), AR (Augmented Reality), and MR (Mixed Reality) is also very common in cultural and tourism settings. Recently, the scenario "Meet the Duku Highway," developed by Xinjiang Shengkang Tourism Culture Development Investment Co., Ltd., integrates VR, AR, and MR technologies, allowing visitors to experience the scenery of the Duku Highway within the large "Meet the Duku" space. "During the 25-minute immersive experience, participants will化身 as 'route inspectors,' completing a 'patrol' journey along the entire Duku Highway in a scenario blending the virtual and real," said Wu Wenkang, General Manager of the company.
Furthermore, VR, AR, and MR technologies have been widely applied in major museums, cultural centers, libraries, intangible cultural heritage halls, and even some scenic spots across Xinjiang, providing citizens and tourists with multiple experiences.
Transportation is providing a stage for the display of cultural and tourism products. Between Luntai County and Hejing County in the Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, the S340 provincial highway, which connects the Taklamakan Desert, the Poplar Forest Park, the Huola Mountain Eco-Tourism Area, and the Bayanbulak Grassland, is undergoing accelerated slope reinforcement and the construction of rest areas. It is expected to open to traffic in July this year.
"This road embodies ecological wisdom, a commitment to quality, and a focus on people's livelihoods. It is destined to become a vivid example of the integrated development of 'transportation + culture and tourism + rural revitalization' in Bayingolin Prefecture, empowering the upgrade of Bayanbulak's culture and tourism sector and increasing herders' incomes, while solidifying support for transforming 'lucid waters and lush mountains' into 'golden mountains and silver hills'," said a responsible person from the Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture's Culture, Sports, Radio, Television, and Tourism Bureau.
Recently, the Hami Branch of the Xinjiang Communications Investment Operation Company has been debugging the upgrade program for the ETC project at the Yandun Toll Station on the G30 Lianhuo Expressway within Hami City, while also accelerating the construction of a tourism consultation service platform.
"This year, the company began implementing the 'culture and tourism + transportation' integration project, setting up Hami culture exhibition areas and specialty agricultural product exhibition and sales areas in service areas along the route, and launching exclusive 'highway + self-drive tour' service packages, including folk culture interactive experiences and cultural tourism strategy consultations," a staff member from the branch introduced to reporters.
A relevant responsible person from the Market Supervision Department of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region's Department of Culture and Tourism stated that the construction of scenic corridors along transportation routes such as the Xinjiang section of National Highway 219, the Duku Highway, the Ahe Highway, and the Pamir Folk Tourism Line has currently been completed.
"Culture and tourism + transportation" also involves integrated development in aviation, railways, and low-altitude sectors. They will collaborate with civil aviation authorities to promote the construction of A1-class通用航空 airports and launch low-altitude tourism products, and work with railway departments to promote innovation in the "Touring Xinjiang by Train" product.
According to the "Xinjiang Cultural, Sports, and Tourism Industrial Cluster Development Master Plan (2025–2030)", over the next five years, Xinjiang will continue to increase the integrated industrial development of "culture and tourism + all industries" and "all industries + culture and tourism." Through multi-industry linkage, it aims to build a new development pattern where "all industries empower culture and tourism, and culture and tourism drive all industries."
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