More Chinese Muslims to perform Hajj this year

Jeddah, 24 Dec 2005

At least 1,000 Chinese pilgrims will take part in the annual Hajj pilgrimage this year, said Li Lan, director of the

regional Administration of Religious Affairs.

The figure is the biggest since Chinese Muslims resumed pilgrimage trips to Makkah in 1979, said Chang Qingliang, an official with the Islamic

Association of China (IAC).

Earlier this week, a group of 600 Chinese Muslims from the northern Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region arrived in the Holy City of Makkah,

according to a report published today by Saudi Gazette.

The rest are expected to leave China before December 27.