Xinjiang celebrating Grape Festival

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It's harvest season in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The people in Turpan are celebrating the 18th Grape Festival.

The Turpan Silk Road Grape Festival is well-known across the coutry. Since its debut in 1990, it has been a way to show Turpan's development. After the July 5th riot, local officials hope the festival will promote tourism in Turpan.

Chi Chongqing, Party Secretary of Xinjiang Tourism Admin., said, "We expect the festival to attract more tourists from home and abroad, especially after the riot. We have seen about 30 percent less tourists from a year ago. In August, we will have 2000 tourist groups."

For overseas tourists, it's more about the food and local hospitality.

An Italian tourist said, "I will say to my colleagues that your country is very nice place to visit, because we have many many things to learn in terms of your culture and your tradition."

The festival will last for ten days and will include activities like grape tasting, tourism promotion and trade fairs.