Peonies, Culture Bloom In Sofia At China-Bulgaria Spring Festival
KUALA LUMPUR, May 26 (Bernama) – A vibrant celebration of spring and cultural exchange unfolded in Sofia's South Park as the 'Peony Blossom Celebration: A Springtime Cultural Gathering' attracted hundreds of visitors from across Bulgaria.
Set amid blooming peonies, the event was co-hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Bulgaria and the Publicity Department of the CPC Heze Municipal Committee.
Sofia Deputy Mayor Nikola Barbutov praised the gathering for fostering cross-cultural understanding, calling it a 'celebration of shared beauty and lasting friendship'.
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Borneo Post
an hour ago
- Borneo Post
China's lesser-known destinations draw more inbound tourists
Foreign tourists learn to make traditional wheaten food at a homestay in Pingyao, north China's Shanxi Province, May 15, 2025. (Photo by Qiao Yan/Xinhua) TAIYUAN (June 9): Basking in the sunshine, John Jammet and his wife sat in the courtyard of a traditional house in the historic Pingyao County of north China's Shanxi Province, with coffee in hand. Their trip seemingly offered them a glimpse into the lives of Chinese back in the day. 'Last night we traveled in the main streets and the lanterns were very beautiful,' said the man from France. 'What attracted me most were a lot of young girls and boys wearing traditional clothes. It showed that they love their culture and history.' Fascinated by the video game 'Black Myth: Wukong,' Jammet became interested in the culture behind it, and thus decided to come to China and have a look. The couple carefully planned their trip, with it including China's capital Beijing, Pingyao, the ancient capital Xi'an in northwest China and the picturesque Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in south China, reflecting their quest to see 'both modern cities and traditional culture.' 'In the Western world, I think there is misunderstanding about China, because our countries are different,' he explained. 'It is important to see with our own eyes what's the truth about China. For me, China is safe and clean, people are kind and helpful.' At the mention of China, images that immediately jump into the minds of many foreign tourists are normally the Great Wall, giant pandas and the many skyscrapers in the bustling metropolis of Shanghai in east China. Thanks partly to China's eased visa policies, an increasing number of foreign tourists are now also turning their attention to lesser-known destinations to delve deeper into Chinese history and culture, just like Jammet and his wife. Zachary Iziah Smith, an American travel blogger, poses for a photo at Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, April 11, 2025. (Xinhua) OFF THE BEATEN TRACK As of the beginning of May, China has granted unilateral visa-free entry to people from 38 countries, and has extended its visa-free transit period to 240 hours for travelers from 54 countries. In 2024, China recorded 64.88 million border crossings by foreign nationals, an 82.9-percent increase year on year. In the first quarter of 2025, this number stood at 17.44 million, up 33.4 percent compared to the same period in 2024. During the five-day May Day holiday, the most recent vacation in China for family outings and tourism, statistics regarding air ticket bookings on Chinese travel services platform Qunar showed that in addition to the megacities of Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, the lower-tier cities of Chengdu, Xiamen, Nanjing, Chongqing and south China's Haikou were also among the top-ranking destinations for non-Chinese tourists. In addition, hotel bookings made by foreign passport holders in Zhuhai, east China's Qingdao and central China's Wuhan grew by 70, 60 and 50 percent respectively. Hotels, restaurants and even hairdressers in residential areas not very close to traditional attractions in Beijing are beginning to greet foreign tourists, while small cities and counties are also seeing more inbound visitors. Kang Mobei is general manager of a shop affiliated to the Gansu Provincial Museum, which sells creative cultural products inspired by items in the museum, like a green fluffy toy based on the iconic copper galloping horse. Notably, Gansu Province in northwest China is home to many historical sites, including the Mogao Grottoes UNESCO World Heritage Site. During the May Day holiday, she found more foreign tourists in her shop, many of whom came from countries like Australia, Indonesia, Thailand and Japan. 'Some of them had already been to the museum, and a few even showed me pictures they found on social media platforms like 'rednote' when asking for products,' said Kang, who observed that some customers had fluffy toys from other creative cultural product shops dangling from their bags. With overseas customers in mind, the store installed POS machines for international bank cards and carried out language training for their staff. A foreign visitor (L) learns how to make matcha beverage at a tea industrial park in Jiangkou County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, April 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) EASIER, FASTER, BETTER KNOWN To meet this increasing demand from foreign customers for niche tourist destinations, Chen Wanni and Chen Min last year founded China Explorer Tour (CET), a tour operating company specializing in authentic food, adventure and cultural-immersion themed retreats and experiences across China. 'It was more successful than we had expected,' said Chen Wanni, admitting that she was prepared for a loss in the first year, but surprisingly they managed to break even. The referral rate of the tourist routes reached 60 percent, with many customers recommending to their friends to come back, while quite a few have come more than once. 'Tourism is not only an industry, but also a window for overseas travelers to learn about China,' she said. Chen Min informed Xinhua that more and more overseas tourists are expressing interest in China's lesser-known destinations, in addition to the traditional attractions, representing the maturity of the nation's tourism industry in recent years. Tom Peacock-Nazil from Britain last September booked a 10-day tour with CET, and visited not only Beijing and Xi'an but also southwest China's Guizhou Province, where he saw both the stunning beauty of nature and various ethnic cultures. 'I realized I had massively underestimated China,' he said. 'I think I've fallen in love with China. That's mainly because we've been off the beaten track. I'm dying to come back and I've been learning about other provinces. I've got plans already.' Sun Weili, a regional manager with the Chinese travel platform Group, noted that the surge in foreign tourists for in-depth tours in China is a result of combined efforts. 'Along with eased visa policies, they can also feel the convenience in terms of payment and traffic, as well as more diversified tours,' he said. For instance, a 16-day luxury train tour from Chengdu to Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has attracted overseas visitors, which promises to take them to an in-depth journey to the northwestern region. So far tickets for all the 10 trips between May and October have been sold out, with 70 percent of the customers inbound tourists. Meanwhile, thanks to movies, video games and social media, Chinese culture is better promoted across the world, luring more curious overseas visitors to have a closer look. 'We are more open and confident,' Sun said. Zhang Jun, who is with a travel agency in Datong in Shanxi, has worked as a tour guide for 18 years. He has noted the huge development of inter-city transportation which has made self-guided tours possible. 'For instance, we used to sit in overnight trains and transfer to reach Pingyao from Beijing. But now the journey takes less than four hours.' John Jammet this time traveled in China for 15 days, which he found not enough to explore the country. 'China is big,' he said. 'I might need to spend a month here.' – Xinhua China domestic tourism traditional
The Star
7 hours ago
- The Star
Penang Haj Gallery traces stories of pilgrims journeying to the Holy Land
Nestled among the bustling tourist spots in George Town, Penanng - a Unesco World Heritage Site - is an area that once served as a vital hub for Muslims in the region embarking on their haj pilgrimage. Lebuh Acheh was historically a significant gathering point for haj pilgrims from various regions of the Malay Archipelago, including Perlis, Kedah, Perak, Kelantan, Thailand, Sumatra, and Sulawesi. This location served as both a spiritual and physical preparation centre for the pilgrimage. The Masjid Melayu Lebuh Acheh, established in 1808, acted as a place of worship, a venue for haj briefings, and temporary accommodation for pilgrims. Associate Professor Dr Aiza Maslan Baharudin, senior lecturer at the Department of Philosophy and Civilisation Studies, School of Humanities, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), said the era of sea travel for pilgrims was so vibrant at the time that the gathering point for pilgrims before departure was located at Lebuh Acheh, which came to be known as the "Second Jeddah" among pilgrims and locals alike. She added that Lebuh Acheh served as a historical artery connecting Malaysia to Makkah and symbolises regional Muslim unity in fulfilling the haj pilgrimage. Endowment houses, madrasah, and warehouses were established to support the needs of pilgrims. 'In 1950, pilgrims requested a dedicated ship for the haj. The first such ship to operate from Penang was the Tyndareus, a former warship that was converted after the end of World War II … with the capacity to carry up to 2,500 passengers,' says Aiza. Photo: Bernama "Lebuh Acheh also became a hub for economic activities during haj season. Locals took the opportunity to trade goods such as supplies, food, clothing, batik fabrics, and more," she said. "It was almost like a 24-hour fair due to the presence of a large number of pilgrims and their families. Interestingly, the traders were multiethnic - including Chinese and Indians, not just Malays," she said in an interview at the Penang Haj Gallery in Lebuh Acheh. Since Lebuh Acheh was the central gathering point for pilgrims, Aiza said that "Sheikh Haji", licensed haj agents monitored by the Penang Haj Control Centre, played a crucial role. As no formal body had been established to regulate haj affairs, these matters were handled by individuals, agents, shipping companies, and Sheikhs, who managed everything from ticketing to accommodation in Jeddah and Makkah. A ship ticket used by haj pilgrims to perform the pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on display at the Penang Haj Gallery in Lebuh Acheh. Photo: Bernama "These were the individuals responsible for preparing haj passes and passports, purchasing ship tickets, and making lodging arrangements in Jeddah. They also communicated with Sheikhs in Jeddah and handled the 'Sahara box,' a storage chest used by pilgrims. "These Sheikhs served as the backbone of the haj logistics system before the establishment of Tabung Haji, with ship ticket prices ranging from RM769 to RM1,000, depending on the class", she said. Aiza, who earned a PhD in the History of Malay Haj from Universiti Malaya, said sea voyages for the pilgrimage began around 1786. These journeys were made using cargo ships, a fact documented in the diary of Sheikh Omar Basyir, a well-known scholar from Penang. "In 1950, pilgrims requested a dedicated ship for the haj. The first such ship to operate from Penang was the Tyndareus, a former warship that was converted after the end of World War II … with the capacity to carry up to 2,500 passengers," she said. The Lebuh Acheh Malay Mosque, founded by Tengku Syed Hussain Al-Aidid in 1808, served as a place of worship, haj pilgrimage briefings, and temporary lodging before departure to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Photo: Bernama She lauded the effort by Yayasan Islam Pulau Pinang (YIPP) to establish the Penang Haj Gallery at Lebuh Acheh, which once functioned as a haj centre and ticketing office from 1828 until the 1960s. The gallery, she said, preserves historical records of the pilgrims' journey in fulfilling the fifth pillar of Islam. It evokes nostalgia for the hardships faced along the way, including cramped voyages and the necessity of bringing multiple bags and a "Sahara box" for the pilgrimage. YIPP chairman Datuk Mohamad Abdul Hamid said that the gallery, being the only one of its kind in Malaysia, aims to revive the history and experiences of Muslims who once undertook the haj in this manner. He added that the gallery has welcomed over 10,000 visitors from Malaysia and various countries, including Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, the United States, and Singapore, since its opening this year. The Penang Haj Gallery - open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4.30pm - features around 40 exhibits, including the book Chateten ka-Tanah Suci, old postage and coins, pieces of the Kiswah (Kaaba cloth), and photographs of ships that once ferried pilgrims to Makkah. - Bernama
New Straits Times
10 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Slow traffic flow on several leading highways
KUALA LUMPUR: Traffic flow on several major highways heading to the Klang Valley has slowed down as of 8pm tonight, as people begin to return to the capital after the Aidiladha holiday. A spokesman for the Malaysian Highway Authority (MHA) said traffic flow from the north to the Klang Valley on the North-South Expressway (Plus) was reported to be slow at several locations, including Alor Star Selatan to Sungai Petani, Bandar Cassia to Taiping and Sungai Perak to Ipoh. Slow traffic was also reported from Gopeng to Sungkai and Behrang towards Rawang. "Traffic flow from the south on the Plus highway was reported to be slow from Pagoh to Ayer Keroh and the Ayer Keroh Rest and Service Area to Nilai," he said when contacted by Bernama, here today. Traffic flow from the east to the Klang Valley on the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Expressway (KLK) and East Coast Expressway (LPT) 1 is reported to be slow at Lanchang to Karak Toll Plaza, Karak to Bukit Tinggi and Genting Sempah to Gombak Toll Plaza. The public can get the latest traffic information via the toll-free PLUSLine 1-800-88-0000 and the X site @plustrafik or the LLM Info Trafik WhatsApp channel and the X site @llmtrafik. – Bernama
