Shanghai-Karamay direct flights to boost tourism

Spring Airlines is also set to launch a new flight route from Lanzhou of Gansu province to Karamay, further facilitating accessibility to the city.

The year 2025 holds special significance for the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region as it marks the 70th anniversary of its establishment, the 70th anniversary of oil field exploration and development in the region, and the 10th anniversary of Shanghai's paired assistance to Karamay. Known for its oil-producing and refining industry, Karamay has been actively transitioning into a cultural and tourism hub in recent years, as highlighted by Wang Xiaojia, director of Karamay Municipal Administration of Culture, Sports, Radio, Television and Tourism.

In 2024, Karamay witnessed a surge in domestic tourism, welcoming 23.26 million visitors — a notable 20.81 percent increase from the previous year — and generating a total tourism revenue of 14.143 billion yuan ($1.92 billion). To further enrich visitors' experiences, a range of high-quality education-themed tour products, including various tourism sites, educational routes and courses, were unveiled during the event, aiming to deepen understanding of Karamay's culture and history in the industrial sector and foster stronger ties between Karamay and Shanghai.

Li Junfeng contributed to this story.