Some residents shop in Shuimogou District of Urumqi in Northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on November 26, 2022. Photo: from IC.

Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is gradually resuming public transportation, with flights and railway routes partially restored. 

Starting from Thursday, a number of railway routes will be resumed, such as Urumqi, capital city of Xinjiang, to Hami City, Urumqi to Korla City, and Urumqi to Yining City, China Media Group reported on Wednesday.  

The airport in Urumqi has resumed flights since Monday, according to an earlier report from China Media Group on Tuesday, citing a local official. 

For instance, China Southern Airlines has resumed flights from Urumqi to Beijing. Flights from Urumqi to Changsha in Central China's Hunan Province also started on Monday, and Hebei Airlines resumed flights from Urumqi to Shijiazhuang on Wednesday.  

Multiple cities and regions have resumed normal production and life, including Urumqi, a local health official said on Monday at a press briefing.  

COVID-hit Urumqi announced on Sunday that the city will gradually resume public transport and production activities related to people's daily lives in low-risk areas from Monday, while further stressing the need to step up resumption of normal life and production. 

Meanwhile, some other cities in Xinjiang have also been easing COVID-19 restrictions. Cities including Shihezi and Korla announced that normal public order would resume from Sunday.

Buses and taxis, as well as supermarkets and food markets in Shihezi will resume operations from Sunday, and local residents can drive around within the city. Strict travel restrictions will be implemented on the city's highways to prevent risks from imported cases. Korla resumed daily life and work routines for people in low-risk areas from 10 am on Sunday. 

Local health authorities noted on Saturday that the city has basically cut off community transmission, and can now restore normal life in low-risk areas in phases.