Xinjiang to offer sightseeing flights

Xinjiang, with an area of 1.66 million square km, is home to nine general aviation companies and 18 civil aviation airports.

The region aims to develop low-altitude flights to boost tourism by offering sightseeing aircraft tours and hot-air balloon rides.

The regional tourism bureau has listed a number of potential routes for tourists looking to experience the region from the air.

It prioritized the development of low-altitude tourism in its list of the region's top-100 development programs, published in 2015.

"The prospects for low-altitude tourism in Xinjiang are immeasurable," said Li Jidong, Party chief of Xinjiang's tourism administration. "The sector is expanding at a rate that is much faster than those in other provincial areas."

Tao Runwen, deputy general manager of Xinjiang Airport Group, said low-altitude flights will enable tourists to overcome travel difficulties associated with the region's size.

"It will help tourists save time that they would have spent on the roads and shorten the distance they have to travel. They can also enjoy an aerial view of the beautiful scenery along the way," Tao added.