Tourism boosted

Improvements to building facades, decorative displays, and the collection and exhibition of ancient artifacts have all helped turn the once-overlooked street into a thriving tourist attraction.

As of May, over 32 million yuan had been invested in the Qiuci Alley renovation project. There are now 55 different businesses including snack stalls, handicrafts, intangible cultural heritage studios, coffee and beverage shops and restaurants operating there, said Yang.

The alley has received over 1.55 million visitors, created tourism jobs for over 360 residents, and generated tourism revenue of 210 million yuan.

Even visitors on tight schedules are drawn to the alley's charm. Dong Wei, a tourist from Nanjing, Jiangsu province, stopped over in Kuqa with his family when they were on their way to the Ili Kazak autonomous prefecture.

"We didn't know about this alley before," he said, adding he was surprised by how colorful and beautiful it is.

After selling coffee for nearly two years from a van by the Duku Highway — considered one of China's most beautiful roads — Wang Xinyu decided to settle in the alley and opened a cafe named after her dog Huahua in April.

Wang said she came to Xinjiang to escape the pressure of city life in Chongqing. "The alley is beautifully renovated with ethnic-style buildings and colorful murals," she said.

After the opening of the Duku Highway after the winter, Wang said she was confident many tourists would go to Kuqa to visit the old town and Qiuci Alley.

Her cafe also serves as a tourist service station in partnership with the Dalongchi Scenic Area in Kuqa. "Tourist numbers are slowly increasing. This year is just a trial. If it goes well, I may open another branch during the winter in a warmer area," Wang said.