The first train has traveled on a new rail line linking Karamay with the north of Kashgar prefecture in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, according to Karamay Daily reported on Oct 20.

The rail service was expected to run from Karamay to Kashgar, through Kuytun, Shihezi, Urumqi and Turpan.

The train links the north and south Xinjiang for the first time, and it will promote trade within the region, according to an official from the Karamay transport bureau.

The operation of the train is part of Karamay’s efforts to improve its transportation network. It is significant for Karamay since it plans to become a transportation hub in the autonomous region to boost the development of tourism and the local economy.

Kashgar is the westernmost Chinese city, located near the border with Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Its history dates back more than 2,000 years, and it has served as a trading post and strategically important city on the Silk Road between China, the Middle East, and Europe.