On June 1, the welcome ceremony for the Inaugural Departure of China-Central Asia International Cultural Tourism Train and the opening ceremony of the Xi'an-Almaty Cultural Tourism Exchange Week were grandly held in Almaty.

Pic from Xi'an Release

Thanks to ongoing visa-free policies, expanding direct flight networks, and enhanced cross-border payment systems, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Kazakhstan reached 655,000 in 2024. This marks a 78% increase from 2023 and is nine times higher than the figures from 2019. As a result, China has become Kazakhstan's the second major tourist source market.

Pic from China Railway

During the signing ceremony, memoranda of understanding (MOUs) in six key areas were signed collaboratively. The Xi'an Culture and Tourism Bureau and Almaty's Tourism Bureau established an international cultural tourism exchange mechanism. The Xi'an Tourism Group and the Kazakhstan National Railway Company promoted integrated rail-tourism development. Additionally, Xi'an Museum and Issyk State Historical and Cultural Reserve-Museum reached an agreement for cultural relics exchange cooperation. Agreements were also signed by the sports, trade, and medical health departments from both sides, resulting in comprehensive cooperation across culture and tourism, transportation, cultural heritage and museums, sports, trade, and healthcare.

On June 2, the Cultural Exchange Bazaar was held at Almaty's Republic Square. Colorful activities such as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) knowledge promotion and intangible cultural heritage (ICH) exhibitions attracted a large number of local residents.

Pic from Xi'an Culture and Tourism

The "2025 Kazakhstan Tourism Year in China" will launch 30 events and sign 200 cooperation agreements. The featured international tourism train connecting Xi'an and Almaty, with railways as the bond and culture as the bridge, is writing a new chapter of people-to-people connection between China and Kazakhstan in the new era.