The Hotan-Ruoqiang railway was put into operation on June 16, forming the world's first railway loop line in the desert. The railway runs 825 kilometers from Hotan City in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in the west to Ruoqiang County in Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture in the east. It is a typical desert railway, 534 kilometers of which are distributed in the sandstorm area, accounting for 65 percent of the total length of the line.

和田至若羌铁路于6月16日投入运营,形成了世界上第一条沙漠铁路环线。铁路西起新疆和田市,东至巴音郭楞蒙古自治州若羌县,全长825公里。这是一条典型的沙漠铁路,其中534公里分布在沙尘暴地区,占线路全长的65%。