From January to August this year, Kashi Prefecture welcomed a total of 105,500 inbound tourists, including 88,800 foreign visitors and 16,700 tourists from China’s Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan. An increasing number of travelers are arriving in Kashi to personally experience its unique charm.

Since the beginning of this year, the Kashi Prefecture has launched passenger transport routes from Kashi City to Kyrgyzstan and from Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County to Pakistan. To better serve both domestic and international tourists, Kashi is continuously enhancing the cross-border tourism development environment through improvements in entry and exit management systems, the establishment of cross-border tourism cooperation mechanisms, and through strengthening the regulation of the tourism market.

Photo shows the ancient city of Kashi teems with people. (Photo by the Media Convergence Center of Kashi Prefecture, Reporter Lei Muguo)

Moreover, Kashi is refining its financial service guarantee system for cross-border tourism by setting up a total of 341 foreign card POS machines across all 4A-level and above tourist attractions, national night-time consumption gathering areas, key rural tourism villages, and hotels rated three stars and above. In addition, five currency exchange points have been established in hotels rated four stars and above, continuously improving the payment environment for foreign tourists. Efforts are also being made to streamline inbound visitors' accommodation procedures, reduce waiting times, and ensure proper regulatory compliance in the service management of foreign tourists, addressing the issue of accommodation availability. Furthermore, there is an ongoing enhancement of signage and information systems, including the establishment of multi-language, international, and convenient guiding services for inbound tourists at key cultural and tourism locations.

On September 8, 2024, the ancient city of Kashi was full of bustling crowds of tourists. According to a tour guide named Abdulla Hapiz, foreign visitors not only enjoy the classic scenic attractions, but also appreciate exploring the alleys of Kashi to experience the local vibrancy and cultural beauty of the city. With 23 years of experience as a tour guide, he mainly leads tours along the route from Kashi to Xi'an. "This year, Kashi has greatly improved its tourist services, with rest stops now equipped with clean toilets that have been renovated for comfort. I've already guided more than ten foreign groups, and the roads have become more spacious, with more hotels and guesthouses. The tour buses are also brand new and comfortable," said Abdulla Hapiz.

Photo shows members of the 2024 European tour operators’ Xinjiang FAM(short for "familiarization") trip visit Kashi Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.(Photo by the Media Convergence Center of Kashi Prefecture, Reporter Chen Zhao)

Tourist Huang Xinchun from Singapore, who has previously visited China’s Beijing, Shanghai, Dali in Yunnan, and Lijiang, expressed her surprise at her visit to Kashi. The guide led them through the streets, visiting Gaotai ancient residential areas and the livestock bazaars, allowing her to immerse herself in the local lifestyle, which left a profound impression on her. "I have wanted to visit Kashi for two years. This time, I tried Kashi's cuisine, purchased dried fruits, and encountered livestock up close, which was truly overwhelming. I captured these beautiful landscapes and cultural moments with my camera, intending to share the photos with my friends and encourage them to experience Kashi themselves. A city doesn’t always have to be defined by skyscrapers; the unique charm of Kashi has captivated me," Huang Xinchun exclaimed.

Photo shows tourists from Singapore experience the local folklore at "Guli's Home" in Kashi Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.(Photo by the Media Convergence Center of Kashi Prefecture, Reporter Kalbinvr)

Kang Yigang, the owner of a boutique homestay in Kashi, recently bid farewell to international guests from Mexico. He said, "This year, the ancient city of Kashi has established a brand effect, with its popularity reaching unprecedented heights, attracting tourists from Norway, the United States, Japan, and other parts of the world. We have also developed more detailed and in-depth services, offering insights into local residents' lives and cultural customs through tailored explanations and route recommendations to better meet the needs of tourists."

（The Media Convergence Center of Kashi Prefecture, Reporter Lei Muguo)