"China is so beautiful. After this trip, I must bring my family back!" Milijiang Zakslekov, a tourist from Almaty, Kazakhstan, could not hide his excitement in the entry hall of the Horgos Port. He is planning to start his first trip to China. The magnificent scenery of Urumqi has fascinated him.

Recently, the Horgos Port has shown a busy scene, with inbound and outbound passengers. According to statistics from the Horgos Entry and Exit Border Inspection Station in Xinjiang, in the first quarter of this year, the Horgos Port inspected and released a total of 280,000 inbound and exit personnel, an increase of 30% year-on-year. This data not only set a new historical record, but also a vivid portrayal of the continued rise in the popularity of cross-border tourism.

The picture shows police from the Horgos Entry and Exit Border Inspection Station handling border inspection procedures for incoming tourists. Photo by Song Wei

In the port entry hall, Milijiang's smile was like the warm spring sun. He couldn't wait to share his travel plan: "I have always been curious about Chinese culture, and this time I finally have the opportunity to experience it myself. Starting from Horgos City, I will go north and explore the customs and customs of China."

The picture shows outbound passengers at the Horgos Highway Port waiting in an orderly line up to complete the exit border inspection procedures. Photo by Cao Rong

Since the mutual visa exemption agreement between China and Kazakhstan came into effect in 2023, the Horgos Port has become a "Internet celebrity check-in spot" in the hearts of many foreign tourists. Every day, a large number of inbound and outbound passengers will be welcomed here, with a maximum of 3,900 people a day. "Cross-border travel" has become a new tourist hotspot. In the port parking lot, Huang Zhengguangzheng and his companions from Fujian were busy packing their luggage. They had just finished their trip to Xinjiang and were preparing to leave the country through the Horgos Port to Kazakhstan. "This trip to Xinjiang is so exciting. We plan to go to Almaty to see the natural scenery there and taste authentic food." Huang Zhengguang said with a smile. The convenience of self-driving tour allows him to stop and enjoy the scenery along the way at any time and experience the collision and integration of different cultures.

Faced with the continuous increase inbound and outbound passengers, the Horgos Entry and Exit Border Inspection Station actively responded and ensured that the entry and exit order is safe and orderly by early release of passenger flow peak forecasts, adding on-site sign guidelines, and timely opening channels. In each passage of the port, passengers line up in an orderly manner and pass through quickly under the guidance of staff. The whole process is like flowing, efficient and smooth.

Ms. Wang, a traveler with a child, said with emotion: "I was worried that there were too many people and queued up for a long time, but I didn't expect that the signage on site was very clear, and the police on duty were also very enthusiastic, and the procedures were completed soon." Her face was filled with a satisfied smile, and she praised the customs clearance service at the Horgos Port.

At present, the Horgos International Highway Bus Station has opened 4 international passenger routes to Kazakhstan, providing passengers with more travel options. With the continuous heating of cross-border tourism, the Horgos Port is attracting more and more Chinese and foreign tourists with its convenient customs clearance services and rich tourism resources. In the future, this place will surely become an important bridge connecting the friendship and exchanges between the peoples of China and Kazakhstan, allowing more people to feel the charm and integration of different cultures. (Song Wei-Cao Rong)