'A Date with China·Meet Xinjiang' intl media tour kicks off in Urumqi

The 2026 "A Date with China: Meet Xinjiang" international media tour officially commenced on Tuesday in Urumqi, the capital of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. The event aimed to build bridges for cross-cultural storytelling, bringing together an international delegation of journalists, experts, social media influencers, and Gen Zers.

This year's delegation comprises 16 foreign participants from 13 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Russia, Algeria, Serbia, Ukraine, India, Brazil, Indonesia, Vietnam and Pakistan. They are joined by Chinese reporters from major media outlets such as China Daily Website, China National Radio Online, Global Times, China News Service, and Xinjiang media, forming a diverse international media corps.

To mark the beginning of the event, a flag-handover ritual was performed.

This is his first time in Xinjiang, and he had heard it's a unique place with a long and rich history, said Thomas Jay Hopkins, an American expert with China Daily Website, at the ceremony. He added that he was eager to learn how people here had created their distinctive culture through diverse exchanges.

His sentiment was echoed by many in the international delegation, who expressed keen interest in experiencing Xinjiang's development and cultural dynamism firsthand.

Over the next seven days, the tour group will travel through Urumqi and Changji Hui autonomous prefecture, among other areas, focusing on key sectors such as technological innovation, Silk Road culture and tourism integration, rural revitalization, and intangible cultural heritage. Their journey is designed to uncover compelling narratives and present an authentic and panoramic view of Xinjiang's development and charm.

Now in its sixth year, the "A Date with China" series has hosted hundreds of international guests from over 40 countries and regions, visiting more than 500 locations across the country. Through a multilingual and integrated media approach, the initiative continues to bridge distances — capturing and sharing the contemporary beauty and dynamic spirit of China with the world.