Skip to Content Facebook Feature Image

Ancient city in China's Xinjiang embraces tourist boom during May Day holiday

China

China

China

Ancient city in China's Xinjiang embraces tourist boom during May Day holiday

2025-05-02 21:26 Last Updated At:22:07

The ancient city of Kashgar in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is embracing a tourist boom during the five-day May Day holiday beginning on Thursday.

On Thursday alone, the city welcomed more than 170,000 visitors.

"This is my first time to visit Kashgar. This ancient city has a very strong historical and cultural vibe, beautiful songs and dances, various delicacies, and special ethnic costumes, all very attractive to me," said Li Ling, a tourist from northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

To enrich the experience of tourists, the city has newly launched live dramas featuring stories of a local blacksmith and a legendary wise man, offering visitors immersive cultural experiences.

"I'm very happy to be here in Kashgar. I especially love the culture here," said tourist Liu Fengping from central China's Hunan Province. The city has also made continued efforts to upgrade its infrastructure and improve tourists' experience.

"We have upgraded the roads, plants, lights and toilets of the scenic area this year, and newly built some popular points of interest and local-style streets, so that the tourists can have more fun in the ancient city and have a great experience," said Adila Ailaiti, an official from the tourism promotion office of the ancient city's management committee.

Located in southwestern Xinjiang, Kashgar served as a vital transportation hub connecting China with Central Asia and South Asia in ancient times. The confluence of diverse ethnic cultures in this region has given rise to a wealth of historical and cultural treasures.

Today, Kashgar has harnessed its cultural and geographical advantages, transforming into a unique tourist destination that blends history and modernity.

Ancient city in China's Xinjiang embraces tourist boom during May Day holiday

Ancient city in China's Xinjiang embraces tourist boom during May Day holiday

Ancient city in China's Xinjiang embraces tourist boom during May Day holiday

Ancient city in China's Xinjiang embraces tourist boom during May Day holiday

China's movie industry is increasingly deriving its earnings from broader consumer economy.

Released during the 2025 summer season, the film "Nobody" became China's highest-grossing two-dimensional animated film -- and its success went beyond theaters.

Through licensing and brand partnerships, the movie has generated 2.5 billion yuan (about 358.3 million U.S. dollars) in retail sales to consumers, with more than 800 licensed products on the market.

Ranging from plush toys to food and home goods, the movie-related merchandise can be purchased from over 3,000 online and offline outlets.

Meanwhile, souvenir stores are crowded at Shanghai Disneyland's Zootopia themed land, with hats, plush toys, and collectibles seeing steady demand from visitors.

"China's film industry is no longer defined by box office revenue alone. It has become a new growth engine that links and energizes multiple cultural sectors. At the heart of every successful film is strong storytelling. High-quality productions create cultural value, which in turn enhances the commercial value of intellectual property and opens up new consumption opportunities. I believe China's film industry delivered an outstanding performance in the past year," said Chen Xiaoda, vice dean of Shanghai Vancouver Film School.

Film IP fuels expansion of consumer market

Film IP fuels expansion of consumer market

Recommended Articles