Ancient Kuqa in NW China's Xinjiang sees cultural tourism boom

A tourist poses for a picture in an alley in the old town of Kuqa city, Aksu Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (People's Daily Online/Li Xinyang)

As twilight falls, warm lights flicker on, casting a gentle glow over the brightly painted wooden doors along Resitan Street in Kuqa city, Aksu Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Deep within the winding alleys, the rhythmic beat of hand drums and the strumming of the dutar—a traditional two-stringed instrument—gradually fill the air. The aroma of freshly baked nang, a signature flatbread of the region, mingles with the melodies of the Twelve Muqams, an art form celebrated as the "Mother of Uygur Music," luring streams of visitors.

Once known as Qiuci, Kuqa is a beacon of Qiuci culture along the ancient Silk Road. The city is breathing new life into its old town through a project that weaves intangible cultural heritage into its alleyways, turning the area into an open-air museum of living traditions. Tourists from across China now come here to immerse themselves in Qiuci culture and savor the timeless charm of this ancient city.

From January to July this year, Kuqa welcomed over 7.14 million domestic tourist visits, up 47.97 percent year on year, while domestic tourism revenue reached 3.85 billion yuan (about $536.06 million), marking a 50.63 percent increase from the same period last year.

A local dances with a tourist in an alley in the old town of Kuqa city, Aksu Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (People's Daily Online/Wang Yuran)

Photo shows tourists in an alley in the old town of Kuqa city, Aksu Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (People's Daily Online/Tang Song)

Locals dance with tourists in an alley in Kuqa city, Aksu Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (People's Daily Online/Tang Song)

An inheritor of Samawar dance, a regional-level intangible cultural heritage, showcases his skills to tourists. (People's Daily Online/Tang Song)

Photo shows a scene of a performance on Resitan Street in Kuqa city, Aksu Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (People's Daily Online/Li Xinyang)

Photo shows tourists experiencing the charm of Qiuci culture in Kuqa city, Aksu Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (People's Daily Online/Tang Song)

Photo shows tourists experiencing the charm of Qiuci culture in Kuqa city, Aksu Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (People's Daily Online/Li Xinyang)

Photo shows tourists in an alley in Kuqa city, Aksu Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (People's Daily Online/Li Xinyang)