Xinjiang is one of the most popular tourism destination in China this summer. To take a closer look at the tourism industry there, CGTN is airing a three-part series. In this episode, reporter Guo Tianqi visits the ancient city of Kashi in southern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to discover how technology is improving the travel experience. 

If you want to experience the lifestyle of the Silk Road and marvel at the world's largest complex built from earth then you have to visit Kashi, the westernmost city in China.

GUO TIANQI, Kashi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region "The ancient city of Kashi has a history spanning more than 2000 years, with its unique culture, traditional delicacies and distinct architecture attracting tourists from all over the world."

But now it's transforming into a smart city. With advanced 5G and AI services available throughout the entire scenic spots. Let's see what changes the new technology bringing.

Dressing up as a Uygur princess and taking photos is a popular activity in this ancient city. Many stores attract customers through live streaming.

JIAO XIAOXU, Owner of Photo Studio "The quality of the internet is very important to us. Almost all of our customers come from the online live-streaming room."

"We were on a road trip and I saw a live stream on the highway. Their clothes looked great and the salesperson was very dependable, so I finished my payment directly online."

The ancient city now supports 4K high-definition live streaming, thanks to 3CC technology that merges three data pathways into one. It allows the data to travel faster, making communication seamless.

CHEN YUE, Network Manager, Kashi Branch of China Telecom "In response to the surge in tourists to the ancient city, we've enhanced the deployment of 5G and 3CC technologies to solve lag during live streams, and prioritize payment related data services through AI technology. The improvement in the network quality also makes smart tourism possible in the future."

ABDULSAMI ABABAKRI, Shop Owner, Ancient City of Kashi "Online payments would be slower if many people were in the store at the same time. But the signal has now been strengthened. It's good for our business."

Kashi's blend of tradition and modernity is also attracting foreign tourists.

"We are Nicholas and Fabian and we come from Germany. We cycled all the way to Kashgar because we wanted to cycle to China."

"Our plan was to do the silk road until Kashgar. We recognize that the internet in whole China since the Turkmenistan pass was very good. So we have to hold time a good internet is much better than the most of the other countries."

Tourism is a key industry in Xinjiang. Through digital upgrades, today classic scenic spots like the ancient city of Kashi are on the path to reaching their full potential. GUO TIANQI, CGTN, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.