Mere sightseeing upon arrival in the vast area of northwestern Xinjiang can no longer meet travelers' demands. Nowadays, people would rather pack their bags with colored maps and cameras and embark on a driving tour to the region.

The local tourism bureau reports that driving, hiking and expeditions to the countryside have become a fashion for visitors to Xinjiang over the National Day holiday.

Road travel turned out to be a new trend this year as an increasing number of people come to own their private cars and hit the highways.

Suburban areas also saw a boom in tourism as families chose to organize mini-tours and spend their holidays enjoying the pastoral lifestyle.

Reports say countryside resorts in Urumqi, the capital city of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and in Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture hit travel peaks in the past week.

Many scenic spots staged activities highlighting folk culture and their beautiful landscapes to entertain the tourists.

The region received 1.76 million tourists during the week-long holiday. Domestic tourism alone garnered 940 million yuan (US$137.37 million).

(CRI October 7, 2008)