Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
The history of China’s interaction with Central Asian countries goes back thousands of years, and the friendship along the Silk Road, passed down from generation to generation, continues to this day. Since the first China-Central Asia Summit, tourism exchanges between the countries have become an important bridge for bringing peoples closer together. At present, there is mutual interest in tourism: China and Central Asian countries have become important tourist destinations for each other, and the number of mutual tourist visits has increased significantly. China and Central Asia are jointly promoting exchanges and cooperation, opening a new chapter in the dialogue of civilizations.
A continuous flow of tourists in both directions
On June 1, 2024, the visa-free regime between China and Uzbekistan came into effect. On the same day, more than 160 tourists from Tashkent arrived at Urumqi Airport. They became the first to enter China without a visa under the new agreement and began their journey around the country. On November 10, 2023, a similar agreement came into effect between China and Kazakhstan. These favorable policies have simplified mutual travel for citizens and effectively stimulated tourism exchanges.
“The majestic landscapes of Xinjiang and the hospitality of the locals exceeded all expectations! The guide’s detailed explanations allowed me to better understand the culture and traditions of the region,” shared Natalia from Kazakhstan during her visit to Urumqi. Since the beginning of this year, a continuous stream of tourist groups from Central Asia have been heading to Xinjiang, and Urumqi’s attractiveness as a tourist destination continues to grow.
According to the latest statistics from the Ctrip platform, the number of inbound tour bookings by users from Central Asian countries has grown by 106% year-on-year since the beginning of the year, with bookings from tourists from Uzbekistan increasing by 164%. The most popular destinations among Central Asian visitors were Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Beijing, Urumqi, Xi’an, Chengdu, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Yiwu and Qingdao. The number of bookings for tours to Central Asia by Chinese tourists showed a 74% increase, while demand for travel to Uzbekistan increased by 60%, with the main outbound cities for Chinese tourists being Urumqi, Beijing, Xi’an, Hangzhou, Chengdu, Shanghai and Guangzhou.
U-tour data shows that the number of Chinese tourists visiting Central Asia doubled in the first half of the year compared to the same period last year. On the Fliggy platform, the number of bookings for flights to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan increased by 60% and 47% respectively. Tashkent, Almaty, Shymkent and Bukhara were the most popular destinations.
In early June, Beijing-based couple Li Tao and Xie Jinhua completed their unforgettable journey through Central Asia. “We have visited 40-50 countries and have always looked forward to seeing the mysterious Central Asia. During this trip, we experienced the warm-hearted kindness of the locals, saw majestic natural landscapes, and saw unique culture. Central Asia is truly a worthwhile travel destination,” they shared.
A variety of new themed tours
China and Central Asian countries have become important tourist destinations for each other. Tourists are no longer limited to just sightseeing – they are looking to delve deeper into the history, culture, traditions and daily life of local residents.
Tourists from Central Asia visit the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region Museum, explore the Grand Bazaar in Urumqi, sample local cuisine, admire unique natural landscapes and immerse themselves in the region’s cultural heritage. Chinese tourists, in turn, discover ancient Central Asian cities on the Great Silk Road and taste local delicacies such as pilaf and horse meat dishes.
Yang Shuguo, CEO of Xinjiang Xiyu International Travel Company, notes: “The deep interest of tourists from Central Asia in Chinese culture opens up new opportunities for the development of this destination. We plan to expand the range of tours to enhance the attractiveness of Urumqi in the market. Five new thematic routes have already been developed taking into account the preferences of guests, including health and business tourism.”
Central Asia is a new popular destination for Chinese tourists. Han Jie, chairman of the board of tour operator AoYou, explains: “Kazakhstan attracts with its wealth of resources: Almaty and Astana are especially loved by Chinese guests. Uzbekistan with its unique historical and cultural heritage is also in high demand. For now, group tours for pensioners remain the main format, but as the infrastructure develops, new offers will attract young people as well.”
Zhou Weihong, Deputy General Manager of SpringTour, announced: “This summer, we will launch two special tours: an extended tour of Kazakhstan and a combo tour of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Travelers will try the famous Uzbek plov at the Besh Qozon Plov Center, see the light show at Registan Square in Samarkand, and appreciate the modern facilities of the local tourism center – this will be a real immersion into history, allowing them to rediscover the charm of the Silk Road.”
New opportunities for expanding the tourism market
Tourism between China and Central Asia has great potential. Xu Jia, CEO of Sichuan Youth Travel Service, said, “We started developing the Central Asia route in March 2023. It was just in May of that year that the China-Central Asia Summit was held, and the demand for the mysterious Central Asian countries increased sharply. Now, it is the fastest growing route in our agency. In order to attract more Chinese tourists to Central Asia and meet their diverse needs, we have developed several themed routes, including “Revisiting the Silk Road,” “Cultural Exchanges,” and “Natural Sightseeing Expeditions.”
“We have been receiving more and more Chinese tourists in the last two years. They have high purchasing power and are interested in historical and cultural exchanges,” says Zhang Wei, the head of an Uzbek tourism service provider. “Central Asia’s tourism infrastructure is still underdeveloped. We plan to increase the number of Chinese-speaking guides for excursions, expand cooperation with Chinese restaurants, update our vehicle fleet, launch new themed tours, and look forward to an increase in the flow of guests from China.”
The introduction of a visa-free regime has given a powerful impetus to humanitarian and tourist exchanges between China and Uzbekistan. This year, Uzbekistan held a series of presentations in Beijing, Changsha and other cities, during which it introduced Chinese tourists to local attractions in detail. The Uzbek side is implementing a set of measures to improve the quality of service to Chinese guests.
China is one of the key sources of tourist flow for Kazakhstan. According to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, 655 thousand Chinese tourists visited the country in 2024, which is 78% more than in 2023. 2025 has been declared the “Year of China Tourism” in Kazakhstan. The plans include a series of promotional events in China: road shows have already been held in Guangzhou and other cities, and cooperation with Chinese tour operators has been established. Digital solutions are being introduced to increase the attractiveness of Kazakhstan: in early June, Almaty hosted the international tourism forum “Digital Silk Road – 2025”, organized by the Chinese digital platform Zowoyoo and the Tourism Industry Committee of Kazakhstan. The project is aimed at deepening the understanding of the Chinese market by Kazakhstani travel companies through digitalization, increasing the level of market development and taking bilateral cooperation to a new level.