（Photo/Chinanews.com）

A total of 20 civil airports have been established in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, topping other provinces and autonomous regions in China.

Located in the westernmost part, Xinjiang China’s largest administrative region at the provincial level in terms of landmass.

Statistics indicate that there are about 1.2 airports for every 100,000 square kilometers of land in Xinjiang, and five of the airports in operation are able to handle over 1 million passengers annually.

According to the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), new airports will be constructed in Taxkorgan, Barkol, East Junggar and other areas in Xinjiang.

Four decades of reform and opening up witness the fast development of Xinjiang’s civil aviation. In 1986, Xinjiang bought the first batch of four Tupolev Tu-154 aircrafts from Soviet Union, and opened 11 airlines within five years connecting with major cities in China. Later the CAAC Xinjiang Regional Administration was established and Xinjiang’s civil aviation started to take off.

With more airports and airlines, Xinjiang can link to more places domestically as well as abroad.