FILE: Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, northwest China - Date Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Various of mountains, rivers, forests, grassland, valley
2. Various of cars running on road

Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, northwest China - June 1, 2026 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
3. Various of cars running on road; cars at parking lot; visitors

Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, northwest China - Recent (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
4. Various of parking lot, charging pile
5. Various of guesthouses; car running on road
6. Various of Suo Cuirong, local resort manager, helping visitor put on hat
7. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Suo Cuirong, local resort manager (starting with shot 6/ending with shot 8):
"We expect visitor numbers to peak starting in mid-June. If weather permits, we would prepare evening entertainment programs for our guests, including throat singing (khoomei) and performances with traditional instrument morin khuur (horsehead string instrument)."
8. People taking, posing for photos
9. Aerial shots of road, mountains
10. Various of people maintaining car
11. Various of visitors talking with rescue team member
12. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Hua Daowei, head of rescue team (starting with shot 11/ending with shot 13):
"We can provide emergency rescue, first aid and humanitarian aid. If you run into any accident on the Duku Highway and need our help, just contact us."

FILE: Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, northwest China - Date Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
13. Cars running on road
14. Aerial shot of roads, river, plains, canyons

Considered one of the most scenic roads in the country, the Duku Highway in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region reopened to traffic on Monday following its seasonal closure since last winter.

The highway, connecting Dushanzi in the north of Xinjiang and Kuqa City in the south, will be temporarily closed every winter due to increased snowfall and road icing. The traffic typically resumes in June in the coming year.

Running 561 kilometers through the Tianshan Mountains, one third of the road hangs on sheer cliffs, one fifth lies atop frozen permafrost. For many, this is not just a road, but a journey through Xinjiang's wildest landscapes.

The popularity of self-driving tours on Xinjiang's highways is growing. The Duku Highway, accompanied by other popular self-driving routes including the S101 provincial highway, the Ahe Highway and the Urumqi-Yuli Expressway, connects high-quality cultural and tourism resources across the Tianshan Mountains, giving a significant boost to the local tourism industry.
According to data from the Xinjiang Transportation Department, the Duku Highway saw 6.86 million tourist visits in 2023, and the figure increased to 7.07 million in 2025.

Services along the highway from parking and EV charging to accommodation and road safety have been upgraded to enhance tourists' experience.

At the Bayanbulak Scenic Area located in the middle section of the Duku Highway, a parking lot covering 60,000 square meters has been built, capable of accommodating up to 1,195 vehicles at the same time.

To meet the charging needs of electric vehicles drivers, the parking lot has been equipped with 117 public charging stations, allowing the drivers to park and recharge their cars quickly in one stop.

As for accommodation, more guesthouses and hotels with local characteristics along the Duku Highway have been set up, allowing tourists to have comfortable accommodations and immerse themselves in the local culture.

"We expect visitor numbers to peak starting in mid-June. If weather permits, we would prepare evening entertainment programs for our guests, including throat singing (khoomei) and performances with traditional instrument morin khuur (horsehead string instrument)," said Suo Cuirong, manager of a local resort.

Beyond travel and entertainment services, safety measures also matter. The Duku Highway runs through high-altitude, frigid mountain areas where weather conditions are unpredictable while geological and meteorological risks are common, which makes road emergency rescue a priority for ensuring safe travel.

So far this year, the Duku Highway has upgraded its safety guarantee system, providing a dual protection network featuring volunteer inspection and professional rescue services.

In Dushanzi of Karamay City in northern Xinjiang, a volunteer team made up of local auto mechanics instructors and their students provides free safety checks and assist drivers in troubleshooting their vehicles before they hit the road to help reduce traffic delays and possible accidents caused by vehicle breakdowns.

Meanwhile, professional emergency rescue teams are also deployed to respond quickly to emergencies, keeping travelers safe.

"We can provide emergency rescue, first aid and humanitarian aid. If you run into any accident on the Duku Highway and need our help, just contact us," said Hua Daowei, head of a rescue team in Dushanzi.