Chinese tourists flock to Neolithic site in Turkey

ANKARA - Turkey's mysterious Neolithic site, Gobekli Tepe, which is considered one of the oldest sites of worship on the planet, witnessed a tourism boom this year, attracting more than 2 million visitors, including an increasing number of Chinese tourists.

Located in the southeastern province of Sanliurfa near the Syrian border, Gobekli Tepe is considered to be one of the earliest known birthplaces of civilizations in the world. Dating back around 12,000 years, the archaeological site has attracted a record number of tourists, says Selim Balir, deputy chairman of the local Chamber of Tourist Guides.

"So far this year, according to our figures, 2.1 million domestic and foreign tourists have visited the site," he says, predicting that the number could reach 4 million by the end of the year.