Urumqi Tianshan International Airport in the Chinese mainland's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region soared past expectations in 2025, serving over 1.1 million inbound and outbound passenger trips and handling 14,000 international and regional flights—a brand-new record for the airport! 🚀
This historic leap cements Urumqi's role as a key hub in the Belt and Road Initiative, linking the Chinese mainland to Central Asia and beyond. Over the year, the airport added three new international passenger and cargo routes, bringing its total connections to 25 cities across 17 countries and regions, including Kazakhstan, the UAE, and Türkiye.
Nearly 42% of flights to Central Asia highlight Xinjiang's core position in the "China-Central Asia" air corridor. Peng, deputy team leader of the Urumqi Entry-Exit Frontier Inspection Station, shared that inbound and outbound passenger numbers jumped 62% year-on-year, while the volume of international flights inspected rose by 82%. 🌟
Thanks to the Chinese mainland's visa-free policies for travelers from Uzbekistan, Russia, and other countries, Urumqi has seen a surge in international passenger flow. The airport now averages 270 international flights per week, and single-day passenger throughput has hit a new high of 5,000—proof that Urumqi is a go-to gateway for global explorers. ✈️
International student Mamadova, who transited through Urumqi on her way to university in Wuhan, praised the airport staff: "The border inspection officers were super friendly and helped me at every step!" Meanwhile, Chinese tourist Liu hopes to use the airport's growing network to visit even more countries in the coming year.
Looking ahead, Xinjiang's expanding international routes and visa-free policies are set to boost people-to-people ties, enhance trade efficiency, and enrich cultural exchanges along Belt and Road partner countries. Urumqi Tianshan Airport isn't just moving passengers—it's fueling a new era of shared dreams. 🌏✨
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Urumqi Tianshan Airport serves over 1.1 mln passengers in 2025
cgtn.com
