STORY: One day in Urumqi's dazzling Grand Bazaar
SHOOTING TIME: Sept. 29, 2024
DATELINE: Oct. 14, 2024
LENGTH: 00:05:28
LOCATION: URUMQI, China
CATEGORY: SOCIETY/CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the Grand Bazaar in Urumqi, China
2. STANDUP 1 (English): LIU YUTIAN, Xinhua correspondent
3. STANDUP 2 (English): LIU YUTIAN, Xinhua correspondent
4. STANDUP 3 (English): LIU YUTIAN, Xinhua correspondent
5. STANDUP 4 (English): LIU YUTIAN, Xinhua correspondent
6. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): BIRGIT, Tourist from Germany
7. STANDUP 5 (English): LIU YUTIAN, Xinhua correspondent
8. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): BIRGIT, Tourist from Germany
9. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): ZHANG CHAOJIANG, Tourist from Yunnan Province
10. SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): ZHANG QI, Tourist from Zhejiang Province
11. SOUNDBITE 6 (Chinese): LIANG GUANGZE, Student of Xinjiang Agricultural University
12. SOUNDBITE 7 (Chinese): SUN ZHAOKAI, Tourist from Guangdong Province
13. STANDUP 6 (Chinese): LIU YUTIAN, Xinhua correspondent
14. SOUNDBITE 7 (Chinese): LI YANG, Tourist from Guangdong Province
15. SOUNDBITE 8 (Chinese): SUN ZHAOKAI, Tourist from Guangdong Province
16. SOUNDBITE 9 (English): DAVE, Tourist from the UK
17. STANDUP 7 (Chinese): LIU YUTIAN, Xinhua correspondent
18. SOUNDBITE 10 (English): DAVE, Tourist from the UK
19. SOUNDBITE 11 (Chinese): BAI YUNJIAN, Director of the Service Center at the Grand Bazaar
20. SOUNDBITE 12 (Chinese): ZHANG HAIFENG, Director of the Effendi Fruit Bazaar
21. SOUNDBITE 13 (Chinese): ROZA SIDIQ, Musical instrument shop owner
22. SOUNDBITE 14 (Chinese): SAJIDA, Owner of hand-made-and-painted bronze and porcelain ware shop
23. STANDUP 8 (English): LIU YUTIAN, Xinhua correspondent

STORYLINE:

STANDUP 1 (English): LIU YUTIAN, Xinhua correspondent
"This is Urumqi in Xinjiang, one of the most popular and attractive tourist destinations in China. A must-visit in the city is the bustling Grand Bazaar."

STANDUP 2 (English): LIU YUTIAN, Xinhua correspondent
"What does it have to offer?
What's the secret behind its charm to tourists from home and abroad?
Today, follow me to find out."

The Grand Bazaar is a landmark in Urumqi.

Sprawling across 100,000 square meters and hosting over 3,000 shops, it stands as a captivating tourist attraction, featuring distinctive architecture, folk customs, and delectable cuisine...

During the peak season, it hosts over 100,000 visitors every day.

Tourists could experience the charm of the bazaar throughout the day.

Around noon, the mingled scents of roasted lamb and melons permeate the air, with songs and dances enthralling visitors.

In the dusk, gourmands began indulging in the culinary avenue of the bazaar, enamored by a wide range of delicacies, ranging from baked buns to kebabs.

STANDUP 3 (English): LIU YUTIAN, Xinhua correspondent
"Want to know what's worth visiting? Let's hear what tourists have to say."

STANDUP 4 (English): LIU YUTIAN, Xinhua correspondent
"What has attracted you the most in this Grand Bazaar?"

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): BIRGIT, Tourist from Germany
"The food bazaar."

STANDUP 5 (English): LIU YUTIAN, Xinhua correspondent
"Yeah, food bazaar."

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): BIRGIT, Tourist from Germany
"I like special tastes. And that's really, very interesting to taste some food."

SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): ZHANG CHAOJIANG, Tourist from Yunnan Province
"It's huge, absolutely stunning.
The food is great. The Qiegao (Uyghur nut cake) is really good, and so are the dried fruits.
As you can see, they play hand drums and the Uygur trumpet. It's distinctively folk."

SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): ZHANG QI, Tourist from Zhejiang Province
"Some small gifts, decorations, and handicrafts are pretty good.
(The Grand Bazaar) is quite lively and bustling."

SOUNDBITE 5 (Chinese): LIANG GUANGZE, Student of Xinjiang Agricultural University
"I attend college here.
We don't have class today, so I came here with my roommates to look around.
I like their bead bracelets, ethnic clothing, and musical instruments.
I think it's really good."

SOUNDBITE 6 (Chinese): SUN ZHAOKAI, Tourist from Guangdong Province
"The food is pretty unique. It tastes like nothing I've ever had before."

STANDUP 6 (Chinese): LIU YUTIAN, Xinhua correspondent
"Can you show it to us?"

SOUNDBITE 7 (Chinese): LI YANG, Tourist from Guangdong Province
"These are fried dough cakes with sand-brewed coffee. The coffee is quite special -- they brew it using sand."

SOUNDBITE 8 (Chinese): SUN ZHAOKAI, Tourist from Guangdong Province
"There is a wide range of dairy products here, like yogurt, and cheese buns are also their specialty, and you see baked buns and naan everywhere."

SOUNDBITE 9 (English): DAVE, Tourist from the UK
"What impressed me the most is how many different foods there are to try. My wife and I have been eating the bread bowl with the soup inside. I am so amazed at how many different things we can try."

STANDUP 7 (Chinese): LIU YUTIAN, Xinhua correspondent
"If someone goes to the Grand Bazaar (for) the first time, what would you recommend (to) them?"

SOUNDBITE 10 (English): DAVE, Tourist from the UK
"I recommend that they try and eat as many snacks as they can.
I particularly enjoyed the cultural architecture as well as the cultural heritage of the city. I thought it was really beautiful. I'm amazed at the beautiful scenery, the mountains, how fresh the air is, and how friendly the people are. I'm amazed by that.
Very different from the reports of my home country.
I think that more people should come here and travel.
And my family, all my friends, I want them all to come here. I appreciate the beauty of the city and the amazing things that are offered here from the people as well."

The success of the Grand Bazaar wouldn't be possible without the hard work and dedication of the locals.

SOUNDBITE 11 (Chinese): BAI YUNJIAN, Director of the Service Center at the Grand Bazaar
"In 2018, the Grand Bazaar underwent a comprehensive upgrade.
It has become a 'golden business card' for tourism in Xinjiang, showcasing the unique charm of the diverse cultures of different ethnic groups living in Xinjiang."

SOUNDBITE 12 (Chinese): ZHANG HAIFENG, Director of the Effendi Fruit Bazaar
"The fruit bazaar provides high-quality agricultural and animal husbandry products from across Xinjiang.
More than 10,000 customers visit the fruit bazaar every day, including many foreign tourists.
Xinjiang has many good products, and through the Grand Bazaar, we hope more people can learn more about them."

Merchants who have been doing business here for many years have also witnessed the prosperity of the Grand Bazaar.

SOUNDBITE 13 (Chinese): ROZA SIDIQ, Musical instrument shop owner
"There are always many tourists. Today, we see so many people. My business is doing pretty well, too.
The bazaar has changed a lot over the years. The later-built pedestrian street is beautiful. There are many tourists. They all love the food bazaar.
As the bazaar expands, it can receive more tourists than it did a few years ago.
More people come. More people visit my shop. More people buy my musical instruments. I'm very happy.
I plan to earn more money and expand my shop. I want a bigger shop."

SOUNDBITE 14 (Chinese): SAJIDA, Owner of hand-made-and-painted bronze and porcelain ware shop
"These are all folk styles. This is made of pottery. This is made of bronze. The materials are different, but the ways of making them are similar. The pigments are all natural, extracted from plants. Artists hand-painted them."

STANDUP 8 (English): LIU YUTIAN, Xinhua correspondent
"The Grand Bazaar is not just a place to buy souvenirs or eat local delicacies.
It also serves as a window to experience the cultural diversity in China.
If you have a chance to visit Urumqi, please don't miss the Grand Bazaar! Welcome to Xinjiang!"

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