The Duku Highway in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, deemed the country's most beautiful scenic road, is welcoming a growing number of visitors from around the world who are coming here for the breathtaking views along the route.
The 561-km road, connecting Dushanzi in the north of Xinjiang and Kuqa City in the south, runs through glaciers, forests, grasslands, and wind-eroded desert landforms known as yardangs.
The journey through the heart of Xinjiang's landscapes promises a unique and unforgettable experience of all four seasons in just one day, making it a must-visit for road trip enthusiasts.
Among the most prominent tourist attractions are the striking, surreal, red-colored yardangs formed by crustal movement and wind erosion over millions of years in arid or semi-arid regions creating the shapes of ridges, hills or castles.
For many tourists, this showcase of nature's beauty offers a perfect backdrop for taking pictures.
"A turn on the road revealed us these rolling red landforms. They are truly spectacular -- a masterpiece of nature's craftsmanship," a Chinese tourist said in an interview with China Central Television (CCTV).
To ensure visitors can fully enjoy the landforms, either with a panoramic view or a more immersive experience, the scenic area offers both sightseeing vehicle tours and slow camel rides.
Andrew Hank, a tourist from Chile, told CCTV that he had explored many of Xinjiang’s landscapes in less than three days and looked forward to taking in other types of natural scenery.
"I saw not only the red landforms, but also the rivers and vast plains. It has been such a wonderful experience that I found myself deeply in awe of these amazing views. There are so many landscapes for me to appreciate and savor. This is only my third day in Xinjiang and we still have 20 days left for our trip here. I think the surprises will keep coming for us every day, and it will be a marvelous, fantastic, and spectacular experience," he said.
Half of the Duku Highway runs at an altitude of over 2,000 meters, with one-third of it running along steep cliffs and the entire route traversing four snow-covered mountain passes and crossing 10 rivers. The highway usually only opens fully between June and October every year, with traffic controls in place during winter snowfalls and icy temperatures.
Tourists flock to scenic highway in Xinjiang as travel season begins
Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Saturday China is willing to work with Lesotho to strengthen exchanges on governance experience, enhance coordination in multilateral affairs, and advance the China-Lesotho strategic partnership.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting with Lesotho Prime Minister Sam Matekane in the capital of Lesotho.
During the meeting, Wang congratulated Lesotho on the 60th anniversary of its independence this year, and spoke highly of Lesotho government's efforts to prioritize economic development and steer the African country onto a path of sustainable growth. Since the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2024, the two sides have advanced cooperation under the 10 partnership action plans unveiled at the summit, successfully implementing a number of key projects to effectively promote Lesotho's development and revitalization, Wang said.
China stands ready to work with Lesotho to strengthen exchanges on governance experience, enhance coordination in multilateral affairs, and push for greater development of the China-Lesotho strategic partnership, he added.
Calling on the two sides to firmly support each other, Wang said that China will accelerate the implementation of its zero-tariff policy for African countries, including Lesotho, expand bilateral trade, investment and industrial cooperation, facilitate broader access of Lesotho's specialty products to the Chinese market, and continue to support Lesotho's national development.
China will continue to stand firmly with African countries, uphold justice for the Global South, including Lesotho, oppose unilateralism and acts of bullying, and work together to build a community with a shared future for humanity, Wang said.
On his part, Matekane said during the meeting that Lesotho cherishes its friendship with China and the strategic partnership between the two countries, and expressed gratitude for China's valuable support for the development of African countries, including Lesotho.
Lesotho firmly adheres to the one-China principle and resolutely supports China in safeguarding its core interests, he said, noting that his country stands ready to strengthen strategic mutual trust with China, expand people-to-people exchanges, jointly implement the outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit, and deepen cooperation in areas such as infrastructure, manufacturing and energy.
Matekane stressed that China's zero-tariff policy for African products will inject new impetus into Lesotho's development. He also expressed Lesotho's willingness to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with China on multilateral platforms such as BRICS to jointly address global challenges.
On the same day, Wang also held talks with Lejone Mpotjoana, minister of foreign affairs and international relations of Lesotho.
China, Lesotho to strengthen exchanges, advance cooperation
China, Lesotho to strengthen exchanges, advance cooperation
