The Horgos International Border Cooperation Center, located on the China-Kazakhstan border in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, is boosting trade efficiency and transforming the Horgos border port into a growing hub for commerce and tourism.
Designed for seamless cross-border movement, the center allows Chinese and Kazakh citizens to cross visa-free within minutes, with dedicated entry and exit lanes for each country.
Home to more than 5,000 shops and 1,200 merchants, the center offers over 1,000 products from more than 40 countries, making it the largest cross-border shopping zone in northwest China.
"These are traditional Princess hats from Kazakhstan, the feathers are from owls, symbolizing good luck. We designed our store in Kazakh style to attract more Kazakh customers," said a saleswoman at the center.
In recent years, an increasing number of customers from Kazakhstan have been visiting to shop and source products.
"The supply chain and logistics in our country are more advanced, so we have a price advantage. They come here to buy duty-free, high-end imported items," the saleswoman explained.
Products made in China - ranging from home appliances to furniture and clothing - are shipped from Horgos to Central Asia, West Asia, and Europe. So far this year, over six million people have passed through the cooperation center, marking a 66 percent increase from last year.
"Before, our goods were shipped from Guangzhou or Yiwu. It would take three days to reach Horgos, then another four or five days to clear customs. Now, after goods arrive in Horgos, we can ship directly to customers, saving three to four days," said Zhang Dongqing, business manager of the Xinjiang Sanshuntong International Trade.
Under the Belt and Road Initiative, this century-old border port is becoming China's gateway to the west and is also the country’s first cross-border economic cooperation zone with another country.
Fast visa-free access, duty free trade transform Horgos port in Xinjiang into gateway to West
