Xinjiang Inbound Tourism News Compilation
The following news articles were collected through web searches. Each article includes its title, publication date, source, and original link.
News 1: Visa-Free Circle Continues to Expand, Departure Tax Refund Upgraded — Policy Dividends Boost Xinjiang's Inbound Tourism
Date: June 17, 2025 Source: Xinjiang Net (Reporter Li Ningyan) Original Link: https://www.tlfw.net/sh/202506/t20250617_29088320.html
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Since the beginning of this year, the popularity of "China Travel" has continued to surge, with Xinjiang becoming one of the hottest destinations.
From the continuous expansion of the mutual visa-free "circle of friends," to the increasingly dense international flight network, to the accelerated upgrade of departure tax refund services and the ongoing optimization of the payment environment — a series of policy dividends and facilitation measures are powerfully unleashing the enormous potential of Xinjiang's inbound tourism consumption.
As overseas travelers' "China Travel" increasingly transforms into "China Shopping," it is also driving Xinjiang's upgrade from a "tourism traffic" hub to a "consumption retention" converter.
Inbound Passengers on the Rise
From the China-Kazakhstan mutual visa exemption agreement taking effect on November 10, 2023, to the China-Uzbekistan mutual visa exemption agreement taking effect on June 1, 2025, to the expansion of China's 240-hour transit visa exemption policy to 55 countries as of June 12...
As China's transit visa exemption and mutual visa exemption "circle" with neighboring countries continues to expand, it has greatly facilitated cross-border personnel exchanges and effectively promoted bilateral economic and trade cooperation, tourism, and cultural exchange.
Meanwhile, with international routes continuously increasing in frequency, the "Air Silk Road" has become increasingly smooth. Especially entering July, China Southern Airlines plans to successively increase international routes from Urumqi to Baku, Astana, Tashkent, and other destinations, continuously enhancing Xinjiang's level of openness and strengthening Urumqi's international hub function.
To date, Urumqi Tianshan International Airport has opened international passenger routes to 25 regions across 19 countries, including Kazakhstan and Russia.
Driven by policy dividends such as visa exemptions and increased flight frequencies, the inbound tourism market has continued to heat up. Xinjiang's magnificent glaciers, vast grasslands and pastures, and vibrant folk markets have attracted numerous overseas travelers.
Data shows: In the first five months of this year, Xinjiang's border inspection authorities processed 1.398 million inbound and outbound passenger crossings, a year-on-year increase of 39.4%, including 707,000 outbound and 691,000 inbound, up 39.3% and 39.5% respectively.
Among the inbound and outbound passengers processed by Xinjiang's border inspection authorities, the number of travelers reached 768,000, up 39.9% year-on-year, and foreign nationals totaled 705,000, up 33.4%.
Tax Refund Service Upgraded
The minimum threshold for departure tax refunds has been lowered from 500 yuan to 200 yuan. Based on China's VAT rate, the general commodity refund rate reaches 11%, equivalent to an additional 10% discount after refund.
As of the end of May, 23 departure tax refund stores have been registered across Xinjiang. As of mid-June, overseas travelers at Urumqi's major shopping centers — Tianshan Department Store, Sasseur Outlet, Meimei MM Shopping Center, Huijia Times, Youhao Department Store, Taibai Shopping Youhao Branch, and other "buy-and-refund" stores — can receive cash tax refunds on the spot after a credit card pre-authorization, achieving "zero waiting" for tax refunds.
"China Shopping" More Convenient
On May 30, Uzbekistan tourist Usmanov Mirakbar purchased a mobile phone and other items at the Huijia Times Urumqi Beijing Road Shopping Center. After swiping his card at the settlement center, he received over 500 yuan in tax refund cash on the spot, becoming Xinjiang's first "buy-and-refund" departure tax refund transaction.
Xinjiang is also continuously improving the payment experience for foreign nationals in Xinjiang. Visitors can not only use UnionPay, Visa, Mastercard, and other bank cards, but also pay with Kaspi.kz, Alipay, or cash. Meanwhile, Xinjiang is promoting a foreign currency exchange market layout with "bank branches as the main channel, authorized institutions for key deployments, exchange agencies for effective extension, and exchange machines for flexible supplementation."
News 2: Policy + Subsidies + Services — Xinjiang's Cultural Tourism Wins Over Overseas Visitors
Date: June 8, 2026 Source: Shiliuyun / Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Yao Gang) Original Link: https://www.xjmty.com/hdf/2026/06-08/nav-42-q19ylgx1.html
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Reporters learned from the press conference of the 2026 Xinjiang Cultural and Tourism Development Conference that in recent years, Xinjiang has focused on the high-quality development of inbound tourism, implementing precise measures in policy support, financial incentives, and service improvement, continuously optimizing the inbound tourism development environment and enhancing Xinjiang's international cultural tourism influence.
Xinjiang has continuously strengthened policy support to build a comprehensive guarantee system. In November 2025, the autonomous region government issued "Several Measures on Accelerating the High-Quality Development of Inbound Tourism and Border Tourism," launching multiple implementable supporting measures in key areas including visa facilitation, aviation-tourism integration, quality product supply, comprehensive service improvement, and overseas marketing promotion, systematically addressing bottlenecks and difficulties in inbound tourism development.
Special subsidy incentives have been implemented to activate market entities. The region has implemented inbound tourism special subsidy policies for two consecutive years, precisely supporting key travel agencies deeply engaged in overseas markets. To date, a total of 1.3 million yuan in subsidy funds has been disbursed to 8 high-quality cultural tourism enterprises. Through the positive incentive model of "replacing subsidies with rewards," the enthusiasm and initiative of travel agencies to develop overseas tourist sources, create cross-border tourism routes, and connect with international markets have been effectively mobilized.
Convenience services have been optimized to improve the visitor travel experience. The region has continued to promote the quality upgrade of inbound tourism services, working with the People's Bank of China Xinjiang Branch to deploy foreign card POS machines, ATMs, and foreign currency exchange devices at key cultural tourism venues and core merchants, ensuring smooth payments for overseas visitors. Meanwhile, passport scanners have been installed at all four- and five-star tourist hotels across the region, simplifying the check-in registration process for foreign visitors.
News 3: Continuously Optimizing Payment Acceptance Environment — Xinjiang Achieves Convenient Payment Across All Scenarios
Date: February 13, 2026 Source: People's Daily App, Xinjiang Channel (Reporter Hu Renba) Original Link: https://sdxw.iqilu.com/share/YS0yMS0xNzA0MTQ1OA==.html
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Reporters learned from the People's Bank of China Xinjiang Branch that in 2025, the branch focused on the payment needs of elderly people and overseas visitors to Xinjiang, continuously optimizing the payment acceptance environment for bank cards, mobile payments, and cash, achieving convenient payments across all scenarios.
In 2025, "Xinjiang Travel" showed vigorous vitality and continued to "win over" overseas visitors.
On one hand, the foreign bank card payment environment was improved. Based on the activity areas of overseas visitors, key locations and merchants were identified — including airports, hotels, scenic spots, and commercial districts — with over 60,000 merchants able to accept foreign cards. According to statistics, in 2025, foreign bank card payments exceeded 200,000 transactions, with amounts surpassing 200 million yuan, and transaction volume was twice that of 2024.
On the other hand, the convenience of mobile payments was enhanced. Alipay and Tenpay were guided to expand their business scope. Overseas visitors can directly register Alipay and WeChat with overseas phone numbers and link foreign bank cards for payment, currently supporting 7 major international card organizations including Visa and Mastercard. Foreign visitors can also use overseas e-wallets for payment, currently supporting 31 overseas e-wallets from 12 countries and regions including Singapore, Kazakhstan, and Hong Kong. For example, visitors from Kazakhstan can directly use the Kaspi wallet for QR code payments. In 2025, over 250,000 foreign nationals used mobile payments in Xinjiang, a year-on-year increase of 85%; transaction amounts reached nearly 1 billion yuan. Among them, Kaspi wallet transactions totaled 710 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of 1.8 times.
Foreign currency exchange services were further optimized. To date, foreign visitors can exchange RMB at 627 bank branches, 100 foreign currency exchange agencies, and over 4,500 ATMs in Xinjiang. In 2025, 590,000 "zero-coin purses" totaling approximately 197 million yuan were distributed, effectively ensuring currency exchange needs.
News 4: Central Asian Tourists Favor Urumqi — Inbound Boom Drives Service Upgrades
Date: June 19, 2025 Source: Shiliuyun / Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Yao Gang), republished by Xinjiang DRC Original Link: https://xjdrc.xinjiang.gov.cn/xjfgw/c112381/202506/983c0e4716b247e3af63d7a772837925.shtml
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The latest statistics from Ctrip show that since the beginning of this year, inbound tourism orders from Central Asian region visitors have surged by 106% year-on-year, with Uzbekistan tourists seeing a 164% increase. On the popular destination list, Urumqi follows Beijing, Guangzhou, and Hangzhou, alongside Chengdu and Xi'an, as a key destination for Central Asian tourists visiting China.
"The therapist's on-site shoulder and neck massage was very comfortable!" On June 10, Kazakhstan tourist Kaycho Bakaisenova participated in a "7-day wellness tour" developed by Xinjiang Loulan Jinzhou International Travel Service Co., Ltd., experiencing traditional Chinese medicine therapy, hot springs, and sand therapy. Wang Wenying, head of the company's Central Asia department, said that Chinese culture, including traditional Chinese medicine, has significant appeal for inbound tourists.
According to statistics, in the first five months of this year, Xinjiang received 1.2539 million inbound tourists, a year-on-year increase of 6.61%; international tourism revenue reached 1.18 billion USD, a year-on-year increase of 9.93%.
Xinjiang Xiyu International Travel Service Co., Ltd. has received over 2,800 inbound tourists this year, with Central Asian tourists accounting for one-third. General Manager Yang Shuguo introduced that with the opening of direct flights from Central Asian countries to Urumqi, the travel agency has innovatively launched family tours, business inspection tours, and photography tour products on top of traditional tourism, and strengthened folk culture experiences through song and dance, immersive performances, and handicraft making, allowing foreign tourists to deeply integrate into local life.
To enhance the inbound visitor experience, Xinjiang's cultural tourism services continue to upgrade. There are 424 star-rated hotels (including 13 five-star) across Xinjiang actively improving multilingual signage, strengthening staff English training, and providing customized dining and other detailed services. Currently, 71 four- and five-star tourist hotels across Xinjiang have been equipped with passport scanners free of charge, and all five-star hotels have foreign currency exchange counters, further facilitating check-in and consumption for inbound visitors.
News 5: Urumqi Airport Port Sees Explosive Growth in Departure Tax Refund Business During May Day Holiday
Date: May 9, 2026 Source: Urumqi Media Center / Xinjiang Net (Reporter Li Ningyan) Original Link: https://www.xinjiangnet.com.cn/yclm/202605/t20260509_34346172.html
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During the recent May Day holiday, overseas travelers' "shopping spree" in Xinjiang showed explosive growth. On May 8, according to statistics from Urumqi Tianshan Airport Customs, from May 1 to 5, the customs processed 340 departure tax refund verification transactions, with verified merchandise amounts totaling 1.496 million yuan, year-on-year increases of 47 times and 19 times respectively.
As China's inbound visa-free policy continues to optimize, the number of tourists from neighboring countries — particularly Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Georgia — visiting Xinjiang has grown significantly. During the May Day holiday, Tianshan Airport Customs monitored 130 inbound and outbound passenger flights and 16,400 inbound and outbound passenger crossings.
"I was worried that the tax refund process would be complicated, but I didn't expect to complete it in a few minutes at the self-service tax refund terminal. It's really convenient!" In the international departure hall of Urumqi Tianshan International Airport, passenger Zosize Rezo, heading to Georgia, said happily holding his just-completed tax refund form.
Currently, the number of departure tax refund stores across Xinjiang has increased to 46, including 24 "buy-and-refund" stores. The minimum threshold for departure tax refunds has been lowered from 500 yuan to 200 yuan — the same overseas visitor purchasing refundable goods totaling 200 yuan or more at the same refund store on the same day can enjoy a tax refund. Based on China's VAT rate, the general commodity refund rate reaches 11%, equivalent to an additional 10% discount.
Refundable goods across Xinjiang have expanded from traditional high-end consumer goods to 12 major categories including Yingjisha knives, Atlas silk, Xinjiang cultural and creative products, and intangible cultural heritage handicrafts.
News 6: From Zhangjiajie to Xinjiang — South Korean Tourists Are Rediscovering China
Date: June 18, 2026 Source: Jiemian News (Reporter Chen Yixuan), republished by Sina Finance Original Link: https://finance.sina.com.cn/jjxw/2026-06-18/doc-inicvfct3303546.shtml
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Xinjiang is becoming a new popular destination for South Korean tourists traveling to China.
Recently, a South Korean blogger posted on an overseas social media platform that Xinjiang is "the last travel destination for Chinese people — after seeing Xinjiang, you'll have no interest in going anywhere else in the world." Four simple landscape photos — the Devil's City, Heavenly Lake of Tianshan, Muztagh Ata Peak, and desert poplar trees — quickly attracted 1.77 million views. In the comments section, many South Korean netizens exclaimed, "I didn't know China had places like this."
Qunar Travel told Jiemian News that as of June 17, passenger volumes from South Korea to multiple Xinjiang destinations have grown significantly. Flight ticket volumes to Altay and Kashgar increased by 50% year-on-year, and to Yining by nearly 20%. Urumqi, Kashgar, Korla, Altay, Yining, and Kuqa have become relatively concentrated destinations for South Korean tourists.
In terms of activities, South Korean tourists prefer Xinjiang's natural scenery, with many chartering cars for road trips around Sayram Lake, Ili, and Kanas.
"Like Switzerland," "Like Canada," "Like Iceland"... These words frequently appear in South Korean bloggers' Xinjiang travel videos and comments. Some South Korean tourists have also stated on social media that the biggest impression after coming to Xinjiang is the vastness — the endless grasslands and highway landscapes are something that simply cannot be experienced in South Korea.
Utour Travel told Jiemian News that looking at foreign tourists entering Xinjiang in the first half of this year, South Korean tourists increased by approximately 10%-15% year-on-year. According to the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Busan, approximately 3.16 million South Korean tourists visited China in 2025, a year-on-year increase of 36.9%. This growth is closely related to China's implementation of a visa-free policy for South Korean citizens for stays of up to 30 days, which was extended to December 31, 2026 last November.
South Korean tourists in Xinjiang try on traditional Uyghur and Kazakh clothing, taste local salty milk tea, explore lamb skewer and naan shops, and some visit the Khorgos Port to experience the "one step across two countries" China-Kazakhstan border atmosphere.
Many South Korean tourists have stated on social media that what attracts them to Xinjiang is not only the snow-capped mountains and grasslands, but also the vast and natural lifestyle that is completely different from South Korea. One South Korean blogger said that before visiting Xinjiang, he thought the region lacked modern urban landscapes, but after actually visiting, both the city appearance and infrastructure level surprised him.
Xinjiang has obvious price advantages in accommodation, dining, and scenic spot experiences. Taking Jeju Island as an example, a three-day trip costs about 800,000 KRW per person (approximately 4,300 RMB), while the same budget could cover about a week in Xinjiang. South Korean tourists are also surprised by local fruit and dining prices — melons, grapes, and watermelons are mostly priced under 5 yuan each.
News 7: South Koreans "Healed" in Xinjiang! Tourists Say: 3-Day Jeju Island Budget Can Cover 7 Days in Xinjiang
Date: June 11, 2026 Source: Cover News (Reporters Zou Ajiang, Chen Jing) Original Link: https://m.thecover.cn//news_details.html?eid=0zsgs6DEg%2FKH90qSdq8Jkw%3D%3D
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Recently, Xinjiang tourism's popularity has soared in South Korea, with large groups of South Korean tourists visiting Ili, Kashgar, and other destinations.
Prices "Dimensionally Reduced" — South Korean Tourists Achieve Food Freedom in Xinjiang
"Eating in Xinjiang is very cheap — the sense of happiness is maxed out." Ms. Lee, a 28-year-old office worker from Seoul, just finished a 7-day Xinjiang road trip and marveled at the local prices. She said she used to visit Jeju Island with friends during holidays, spending about 800,000 KRW (approximately 4,000 RMB) per person for 3 days, with only basic food and accommodation. The same budget in Xinjiang covers 7 days with quality food and lodging and dense attractions — a huge gap in value for money.
A single melon in South Korea costs nearly 10,000 KRW (about 50 RMB), considered a premium fruit. In Xinjiang, 5 yuan buys a melon with explosive sweetness, and grapes and watermelons are sold by the basket. Baked buns at 3 yuan each have crispy crusts and juicy fillings, and 5 yuan buys a large skewer of substantial lamb.
Vast Mountains and Endless Grasslands — Stressed South Koreans "Healed" in Xinjiang
"Confined in a small world, the body and mind are trapped; the vast mountains and rivers dissolve all sorrows." South Korean blogger Mr. Kim wrote this reflection on social media after a road trip through the Ili River Valley, resonating widely with South Korean youth.
Mr. Kim introduced that on this Xinjiang trip, he drove the Duku Highway, visited Nalati Grassland, Sayram Lake, and Kanas — seeing snow-capped mountains, grasslands, lakes, and deserts in a single day. The beauty of four seasons in one frame was like movie special effects, completely different from South Korea's compact urban landscapes. Standing on the endless grasslands with snow-capped mountains stretching in the distance, the sound of wind blowing across the grass instantly empties the mind, and all anxiety is diluted by the vastness of the landscape.
"In Xinjiang, you don't need to rush your itinerary — just freely enjoy the wind and watch the sunset. This slow-paced healing feeling cannot be replicated in South Korea."
Mr. Park, a South Korean tourist who has lived in China for 6 years, added that walking through the ancient city of Kashgar and Tekes Bagua City, the clean streets, friendly people, and safe environment broke his previous stereotypes. He said every landscape in Xinjiang is filled with a sense of freedom, making it a "spiritual refuge" for South Korean youth.
A staff member at Xinjiang Overseas International Travel Service told reporters that since China implemented the 30-day visa-free policy for South Korea at the end of 2024, foreign tourist orders to Xinjiang have increased significantly year-on-year. Among them, South Korean tourists' key interest in Xinjiang travel is the "sense of vastness" — gathering snow-capped mountains, grasslands, lakes, and deserts on a single route. The scenery of Kanas, Nalati, and other places has been called "the ceiling of healing" on South Korean social media. Secondly, there is the cultural contrast — many tourists find after arriving in Urumqi and Kashgar that the cities are far more convenient than expected. Additionally, the high-quality, inexpensive Xinjiang cuisine is also a major draw for foreign tourists.
Tianshan Heavenly Lake Scenic Area received 117,100 overseas visitors in 2025, a year-on-year increase of 47%, with the inbound tourism market achieving beyond-expected growth.
News 8: Border Exchanges Heat Up — Xinjiang's First-Half Inbound and Outbound Passengers Exceed 2.4 Million
Date: July 8, 2026 Source: Xinhua News Agency (Reporters Chu Hang, Zhang Xiaocheng) Original Link: https://www.xj.news.cn/20260708/81a71f4534ce4e008120643db76bbd19/c.html
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Reporters learned from the Xinjiang Exit-Entry Border Inspection General Station on the 7th that in the first half of 2026, the passenger and cargo flow volume at Xinjiang's open ports steadily climbed, with cumulative inspection of 2.408 million inbound and outbound passenger crossings, a year-on-year increase of 33.2%, reaching the 2 million mark 39 days earlier than in 2025. This demonstrates Xinjiang's strong vitality as the core area of the Silk Road Economic Belt.
Data shows that in the first half of the year, Xinjiang's border inspection stations cumulatively processed 1.228 million outbound and 1.18 million inbound passenger crossings, year-on-year increases of 34.8% and 31.6% respectively. The China-Kazakhstan Khorgos International Border Cooperation Center has become an important passenger flow hub, with 3.757 million park entries and exits. The Khunjerab Port has seen significantly increased internationalization, with inbound and outbound tourists covering 42 countries and regions including South Korea, Poland, and France.
To cope with peak passenger flows, Xinjiang's immigration authorities have rigidly implemented the service commitment that Chinese citizens' customs clearance queuing time does not exceed 30 minutes, and implemented convenience measures such as "dedicated channels" and "zoned inspections" for new business formats like cross-border self-driving tours and foreign tour groups. In the first half of the year, the region's cross-border self-driving tour traffic grew nearly 4.5 times, serving and guaranteeing nearly 1,500 inbound and outbound foreign tour groups.
News 9: Global Inbound Tourism Recovery — As the World Begins to Rediscover Xinjiang
Date: June 20, 2026 Source: Phoenix WEEKLY (Author Dong Sheng), republished by Toutiao Original Link: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7653125869577241122
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On the afternoon of June 17, the Silk Road hub of Hotan welcomed a grand cultural tourism event — the "Kunlun Brings Merchants Together, Silk Road Shares Prosperity" 2026 Xinjiang International Travel Trade Conference was grandly held. Approximately 460 international travel trade representatives from 23 countries and the Hong Kong region gathered here.
Strong Inbound Tourism Recovery — Xinjiang Enters a Strategic Opportunity Period
Ctrip Group data shows that in 2025, China's inbound tourism recovery rate reached 123%, far exceeding the global and Asia-Pacific average levels. Against this macro backdrop, Xinjiang, with its unique geographical advantages and rich cultural tourism resources, has become the core sector with the greatest growth potential in China's inbound tourism landscape.
In 2025, Xinjiang cumulatively received 2.3615 million inbound tourists, with international tourism revenue of 2.065 billion USD, year-on-year increases of 5.65% and 6.16% respectively. Since 2026, Central Asian and Southeast Asian tourist sources have continued to grow steadily, with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Malaysia ranking in the top three. Tourists from France, Germany, Spain, Singapore, and Thailand have continued to increase, and a diversified tourist source growth system is gradually taking shape.
Airports completed 29.1797 million passenger throughput for the year, a year-on-year increase of 5.09%, with international and regional passengers seeing a year-on-year increase of 62.31%.
Transportation Foundation: Aviation and Railway Dual-Drive
From January to May 2026, Xinjiang airports completed 21.138 million passenger throughput, a year-on-year increase of 7.55%. The region operates 32 international passenger routes, a year-on-year increase of 33.3%, achieving full coverage of the five Central Asian countries and three Caucasus countries, connecting 23 cities across 19 countries. The Guangzhou-Urumqi-Frankfurt route, as the first direct international route from Northwest China to Germany, has opened a new channel for Xinjiang to connect with the European market.
On the railway side, China Railway Urumqi Bureau Group Co., Ltd. has served foreign tourists from 162 countries, with an average annual growth rate exceeding 20%. In 2025, 356 tourist trains were operated into and within Xinjiang, a year-on-year increase of 78%. The "New Orient Express" has operated over 350 trains since 1999, receiving over 40,000 tourists, with overseas visitors accounting for 85%.
Trend Insights: From "Traffic Growth" to "Retention and Quality Improvement"
Cui Li, CEO of Luoka Cultural Tourism, pointed out that the international tourist group for Xinjiang's inbound tourism is undergoing structural changes: "The international tourists visiting Xinjiang are not first-time visitors to China, but rather visitors making deep destination choices after multiple visits. They are tourists with different interest areas — high-end international tourists with customized travel needs."
On overseas social media, high-engagement content about Xinjiang is concentrated on themes such as road trips, grassland scenery, and skiing. The Duku Highway, Altay grasslands, Kunlun Mountains, and Kizil Caves have become important cultural tourism IPs along the Silk Road.
Liang Changhong, General Manager of China Youth Travel Service Xinjiang Cultural Tourism Development Co., Ltd., proposed the concept of "Becoming Chinese" (being a Chinese person for a day). She pointed out that current tourist needs have fully shifted from "scenic spot check-ins" to "cultural immersion + lifestyle experience." Three major trends in inbound tourism: First, profound changes in tourist source structure — tourists from visa-free countries such as Japan, South Korea, and European countries are growing rapidly, with individual travelers and small groups accounting for over 80%, and the 25-45 age group becoming the main force. Second, complete restructuring of product logic — traditional large tour groups are shrinking, while fragmented, themed, and customized products are highly favored. Third, comprehensive upgrade of service standards — multilingual guides, mobile payments, and departure tax refunds have become standard features of inbound tourism.
"Xinjiang is not the frontier of China's inbound tourism, but the core sector of new growth in China's inbound tourism."
News 10: When Holidays Meet China Travel — Foreigners Share Their "Immersive Experience of China"
Date: October 9, 2025 Source: Global Times - Huanqiu (Reporters Ding Yazhi, Li Meng, Chen Zishuai) Original Link: https://3w.huanqiu.com/a/5e93e2/4OeknM8DRbM
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"This is a completely different world from what Western media describes!" On October 6, American blogger Dante Munoz posted a video on social media about traveling in Kashgar, Xinjiang, China.
"Western media always portrays this place with negative overtones, but what I see and hear in China is all about people's enthusiasm and yearning for Xinjiang's diverse culture," Dante told the Global Times. It was this stark contrast that sparked his curiosity. Upon arriving in Kashgar, he was immediately attracted by the decorations celebrating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. "The rich ethnic flavor intertwined with the festive atmosphere instantly immersed me in the unique charm of this city."
"This is my first day in Xinjiang, and everything here amazes me." In the video, Dante stood at a spot overlooking the Kashgar urban area and exclaimed. At seven in the evening, the sunset still hung high, and the desert wind rolled up fine sand, casting a golden halo over the ancient city. "I've never been to a place like this — the multicultural fusion of Kashgar is stunning. So many different ethnic groups living together in harmony — it's truly beautiful."
Through his lens, young women in traditional Xinjiang clothing danced gracefully in front of the ancient city. At a street corner juice stall, a Uyghur merchant was feeding fresh pomegranates and grapes into a traditional copper juicer, turning the handle with both hands as bright red juice flowed through a tube into a glass cup. Not far away, outside a handicraft shop, a Kazakh elder sat on a small stool weaving wool tapestries...
Kashgar's cuisine also left a lasting impression on him: "We ate lamb-filled naan with a golden, crispy crust — one bite and it's all meaty aroma. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water."
"Some merchants I met said I was the first American they'd ever seen. That made me realize there are many stories here waiting to be seen by the outside world." He told the Global Times that Xinjiang's development and cultural preservation efforts are commendable: "Here you have modern facilities while retaining rich local character."
Beyond traditional folk customs, Kashgar's "sense of contrast" also surprised Dante. "I'm from New York, and I thought it was the capital of nightlife, but Kashgar is not inferior at all!" Young people danced to international pop music and ethnic melodies, and this effortless cultural switching amazed him: "This city is both international and diverse — so cool!"
What Dante found most unforgettable was a Uyghur wedding he stumbled upon. "I met a local Xinjiang guide on the street. When he learned we wanted to experience local culture, he immediately helped arrange for us to attend a wedding that was being held. The hosts warmly invited us to join." The wedding was filled with rich ethnic flavor: colorful clothing, cheerful Meshrep dances, and sweet fruits and delicacies.
"On this journey, I broadened my worldview and saw a real, diverse, and vibrant China." He sincerely stated: "I hope to create more enthusiasm and expectation for Xinjiang tourism. Please come here and see for yourself — you'll find no prejudice or misunderstanding here, only warm people and splendid culture."
News 11: Xinjiang Is a Good Place — Southern Xinjiang's Cultural Tourism Accelerates Winning Over Overseas Visitors
Date: June 20, 2026 Source: Shiliuyun / Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Yao Gang), republished by Tencent News Original Link: https://new.qq.com/rain/a/20260620A08F4N00
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Since the beginning of this year, Central Asian and Southeast Asian tourist sources for Xinjiang tourism have continued to grow. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Malaysia steadily rank in the top three, while tourists from France, Germany, Spain, Singapore, and Thailand have increased significantly. Xinjiang's diversified tourist source growth system is gradually taking shape.
Changes in tourist source structure are driving upgrades in tourism product supply. "We are currently negotiating with travel agents from Vietnam and Thailand — they are very interested in Southern Xinjiang's desert landscapes and folk culture," said Zhang Jie, Deputy General Manager of Xinjiang Great Western International Travel Service, on June 16.
Liang Fengmei, General Manager of Malaysia's Jiayu Travel Co., Ltd., who has been in the tourism industry for over 30 years, made a special trip to Hotan for a site inspection. "In the past, our products focused on the natural landscapes of Northern and Eastern Xinjiang. Now, with growing tourist demand for history and culture, cultural elements are taking up an increasingly large proportion in route design." She believes that Hotan's Kunlun culture, Yutian culture, and jade culture are highly attractive and will become new market hotspots.
Around the construction of the Southern Xinjiang Silk Road cultural tourism destination, various regions are continuously working on tourism elements. Ancient sites such as Pantuo City, the Mor Temple, and the Stone City; traditional arts including the Twelve Muqam, Dolan Meshrep, and Sainaimu dance; traditional handicrafts such as Atlas silk weaving, copper forging, and hat embroidery... The profound historical and cultural heritage forms the foundation of Kashgar's cultural tourism industry development.
Shi Zhan, a professor at the Global Civilization History Research Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, suggested that Hotan's cultural tourism development should deeply explore the profound stories of Kunlun culture, the Jade Road, and ancient Yutian civilization, creating premium routes for jade-seeking study tours, Kunlun scenery, and ancient site exploration. He recommended integrating geological changes, civilizational fusion, and community history into the tourism experience, using the two core IPs of Kunlun and Jade to shape Hotan's unique cultural tourism identity.
News 12: Urumqi Tianshan International Airport Port Sees 37.9% Year-on-Year Increase in Inbound and Outbound Passenger Flow in First 5 Months
Date: June 20, 2026 Source: Xinjiang Net (Reporter Li Ningyan), republished by Xinjiang Channel Original Link: http://xjmd.gov.cn/P/C/33844.htm
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In the first five months of this year, the Urumqi Tianshan International Airport Port recorded over 468,000 inbound and outbound passenger crossings, a year-on-year increase of 37.9%. Inbound foreign passengers exceeded 90,000, a year-on-year increase of 57.9%, with visa-free entry passengers accounting for over 80% of foreign passenger entries.
Looking at the source markets of inbound passengers in the first five months, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Uzbekistan ranked at the top for inbound personnel, with year-on-year growth of 18%, 382%, and 128% respectively. Additionally, over 23,000 passengers from Hong Kong, China entered through the Urumqi Tianshan International Airport Port, a year-on-year increase of 23.5%.
During the Dragon Boat Festival holiday, the Urumqi Tianshan International Airport Port's passenger flights connected 15 cities including Almaty, Tashkent, Baku, Tbilisi, Osh, Istanbul, Moscow, Islamabad, Dushanbe, Ashgabat, and Frankfurt.
