China's westernmost Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region earned 11.56 billion yuan (about US$1.4 billion) from tourist business in 2004, a record high.

This was the first time the autonomous region's tourism income exceeded the 10 billion yuan (some 1.2 billion dollars) mark, said Naim Yasen, director of the regional tourism bureau.

Of the total sum, 10.9 billion yuan (some US$1.3 billion) came from domestic tours, a rise of 23 percent over the previous year, while overseas tourists, numbering 316,900, contributed 91 million US dollars, a year-on-year increase of 87 percent, he said.

The autonomous region had signed tourism of cooperation agreements with a number of neighboring countries such as Russia, India and Pakistan, paving way for organized tours to these countries.

Xinjiang is world-famous for its ancient Silk Road and also home to 256 ancient cultural sites, tombs, ruins, Buddhist caves, stone sculptures and numerous contemporary monuments. Some 154 of the sites are listed under state-level protection.

Currently, Xinjiang boasts 324 travel agencies and 277 high-class hotels including seven five-star hotels.

(Xinhua News Agency February 23, 2005)