TORY: Key land port in China's Xinjiang sees rising cross-border tourism
SHOOTING TIME: Aug. 11, 2024
DATELINE: Aug. 14, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:00
LOCATION: HORGOS, China
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of tourists crossing border in Horgos
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): BARATKHAN MOLDIRSHEN, Kazakh tourist
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Russian): YELENA, Kazakh tourist
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Russian): SAFIYA, Kazakh tourist
5. SOUNDBITE 4 (Kazakh): ZHAKYNULY RASUL, Kazakh tourist
6. various of tourists crossing border in Horgos
7. SOUNDBITE 5 (Chinese): KONG WEIZHENG, Chinese traveler
8. SOUNDBITE 6 (Chinese): ZHANG ZHONGYAN, Chinese traveler
9. various of tourists boarding international buses to Kazakhstan

STORYLINE:

Horgos, a land port city in China's Xinjiang, has witnessed a surge in cross-border tourism recently.

Data from the local authorities show that by August 11, 750,000 exit and entry trips had been made via the port in Horgos this year, an increase of 115 percent year on year.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): BARATKHAN MOLDIRSHEN, Kazakh tourist
"During this trip to China, I visited Ili, and Urumqi in Xinjiang, which were wonderful. The food in Xinjiang was particularly delicious, especially the barbecue."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Russian): YELENA, Kazakh tourist
"We visited Urumqi in Xinjiang. Everything was delightful and interesting. The food is delicious."

SOUNDBITE 3 (Russian): SAFIYA, Kazakh tourist
"I'm going to China to visit my friends. I've been here several times. I love China and China is very beautiful, with hospitable people. I often come here."

SOUNDBITE 4 (Kazakh): ZHAKYNULY RASUL, Kazakh tourist
"This is my second visit to China. I'd like to see the country's development and taste the delicious Chinese cuisine. I love the food here and would like to see the skyscrapers."

China was Kazakhstan's largest trading partner in 2023, with two-way trade up by 32 percent year-on-year to reach 41 billion U.S. dollars.

Over the past year alone, a number of important agreements have been sealed, including the implementation of a mutual visa-free policy, and the announcement of 2024 as the "Kazakhstan Tourism Year" in China.

SOUNDBITE 5 (Chinese): KONG WEIZHENG, Chinese traveler
I'm going to travel around the world by bicycle. I'll go to five Central Asian countries first, and then to Europe.

SOUNDBITE 6 (Chinese): ZHANG ZHONGYAN, Chinese traveler
"We have decided to form a 5-person tourist group. They are from Chongqing, and I'm from Tianjin. The other two are from the beautiful city of Yuxi in Yunnan. So we have formed this tour group to travel to Kazakhstan, to experience the foreign culture and scenery."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Horgos, China.
(XHTV)