Record number of Chinese Muslims on Haj
With 20 million Muslims around China, it is only in recent years that they have been able to go on the yearly pilgrimage to Mecca, Islam's holiest city, in substantial numbers. Thanks to rising affluence, growing numbers of Chinese Muslims are now able to fulfill their spiritual obligations of performing the Haj at least once in their lifetime, and this year, a record 10,700 of them are expected to do so. Five departure ports for non-stop charter flights to Saudi Arabia have been offered — Yinchuan, Beijing, Urumqi, Lanzhou and Kunming. The first batch of pilgrims have just left on flights operated by China Eastern from Yinchuan to Medina, with more to follow.
