The new railway line from Karamay to Tacheng in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region is opened on May 30, 2019. Photo: VCG

 Railway networks in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region recorded 4.77 million passenger trips across China in July, the first month of summer vacation, up 19 percent compared to the same period last year. 

The growth in passenger trips in July ranked first among railway networks across China, according to ts.cn, Xinjiang's major news website. 

About 60,000 passenger trips were made by the Urumqi railway station, the largest in Xinjiang, since July. 

As summer vacation drives travel demand, it's estimated that more than 10.18 million passenger trips will be made in Xinjiang from July 1 to August 31, according to the report. 

The number of rail passengers in Xinjiang increased significantly in July, mainly due to the increase of the transport capacity of Xinjiang's railway, the report noted.

The Xinjiang railway has opened several new lines, including one from Karamay to Tacheng and has also opened new railway stations, such as the Usu and Hejing county stations.

The report said passengers to Xinjiang include tourists and students. Some travel agencies confirmed to the Global Times on Thursday that large numbers of tourists around the country go to Xinjiang during the summer vacation.

"Since the beginning of July, many customers ask about our tours to Xinjiang," one employee of a travel agency based in Urumqi told the Global Times. 

The agency's most popular travel package has been sold to more than 4,800 people, which offers an eight-day tour of Xinjiang.