Kashgar attracts holiday crowds with special cultural, historical charm

The ancient city of Kashgar, located in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, emerged as a major tourist hotspot during the seven National Day holiday, attracting flocks of tourists with its rich history and culture.

This past Friday, the fifth day of the national holiday, attracted an impressive 234,600 visitors in a single day.

Kashgar has long been a vital transportation hub connecting China with Central and South Asia. Its diverse ethnic cultures converge here, creating a treasure trove of historical significance. Today, the city leverages its cultural heritage and geographical advantages to present a unique blend of the ancient and the modern.

During the holiday, visitors were treated to a captivating welcome ceremony that highlighted local traditions.

"We felt particularly thrilled when we arrived here this morning; seeing it all in person was truly exhilarating," said Zhang Aiwu, a tourist from east China's Shandong Province.

In the city's residential areas, the lively sound of music encouraged tourists to participate in traditional ethnic dances, fostering a sense of community and joy.

"It really felt like being welcomed into a friend's home. The hospitality was so warm that it made it easy for us to join in the dancing," said Xia Ling, a visitor from Shanghai.

Kashgar Ancient City has introduced themed photo spots, allowing visitors to capture their happy moments in this vibrant place. Furthermore, the number of song and dance performances has been increased during the holiday, inviting more tourists to join in and enjoy the unique leisure vibe.

"As we strolled through, we encountered a variety of performances filled with singing and dancing. In every alley, I can always discover a wealth of different sights," said Feng Yuyuan, a visitor who came all the way from central China's Hubei Province.

Kashgar attracts holiday crowds with special cultural, historical charm

As the week-long National Day holiday entered its fifth day on Saturday, many holidaymakers across China have embarked on return trips by train, car and air, bringing holiday traffic flow to another peak.

Data from the Ministry of Transport showed that China is expected to deliver over 284 million cross-regional trips on Friday, with more than 17.95 million trips made by railway.

Since the beginning of the holiday travel rush on Sept. 29, the national railway network has already transported over 100 million passenger trips, with daily passenger flow consistently exceeding 17 million trips.

As the return passenger flow gradually increased starting Saturday, regional departments across the country have enhanced efforts to ensure transportation services during the period.

Expressways continued to see dense traffic across the country, especially in the metropolises of Shanghai and Guangdong Province's Guangzhou, as well as Changsha City of central China's Hunan Province and Suzhou City, east China's Jiangsu Province.

Meanwhile, the country's civil aviation sector is expected to transport more than 2.32 million passengers on the same day, up over 5 percent compared with the previous day.

China sees peak return trips as National Day holiday winds down