In a bid to enhance connectivity and promote tourism between Shanghai and Karamay in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, direct flights are set to be launched by the end of 2025. The announcement was made during a promotion conference held in Shanghai's Changning district on April 15, with the aim of attracting visitors and boosting consumption in both regions.
Following the completion of the renovation and expansion of Karamay's Kelamayi Guhai Airport, the upcoming direct flight, operated by China Eastern Airlines, will link Shanghai and Karamay three times a week. Tu Weifeng, the deputy secretary-general of the Karamay municipal people's government, highlighted the growing demand for exchanges between the two regions, emphasizing that the new flight route will significantly reduce travel time from eight hours to less than five hours.
This initiative builds upon the success of the stopover flight route launched by China Eastern Airlines in July 2023, connecting Shanghai to Xi'an of Shaanxi province and onward to Karamay. With an impressive passenger load factor of nearly 90 percent from its inception to the end of March this year, the route has demonstrated a strong travel appeal between these destinations.
Spring Airlines is also set to launch a new flight route from Lanzhou of Gansu province to Karamay, further facilitating accessibility to the city.
The year 2025 holds special significance for the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region as it marks the 70th anniversary of its establishment, the 70th anniversary of oil field exploration and development in the region, and the 10th anniversary of Shanghai's paired assistance to Karamay. Known for its oil-producing and refining industry, Karamay has been actively transitioning into a cultural and tourism hub in recent years, as highlighted by Wang Xiaojia, director of Karamay Municipal Administration of Culture, Sports, Radio, Television and Tourism.
In 2024, Karamay witnessed a surge in domestic tourism, welcoming 23.26 million visitors — a notable 20.81 percent increase from the previous year — and generating a total tourism revenue of 14.143 billion yuan ($1.92 billion). To further enrich visitors' experiences, a range of high-quality education-themed tour products, including various tourism sites, educational routes and courses, were unveiled during the event, aiming to deepen understanding of Karamay's culture and history in the industrial sector and foster stronger ties between Karamay and Shanghai.
Li Junfeng contributed to this story.
