URUMQI, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region plans to further expand its modern equine industry this year with the whole industrial chain's annual output topping 9.5 billion yuan (about 1.34 billion U.S. dollars).
Enhanced efforts will be made in fields including horse breeding, product processing, tourism development and horse racing, according to an action plan released by local authorities.
Xinjiang is one of China's major habitats for horses, with those bred in the Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture standing out among the country's sports horses.
Large breeding bases for utilizing horse milk, meat, fat and pregnant mare urine will be built this year, the plan said.
Development of horse-related travel routes and tourism projects are encouraged while more influential horse racing contests will be held, according to the plan.
The plan came after Xinjiang vowed last year to become a strong equine industry player in China, expecting its whole horse industrial chain to reach over 22 billion yuan in output in 2030. Enditem