Chinese Record Numbers for Haj

Wednesday, 12 December 2007
By Kholood F. Al-Rhamah

JEDDAH - Chinese Haj pilgrims were due to arrive Tuesday in Makkah for what will be the highest ever participation in the annual pilgrimage from that country. "The number of Chinese pilgrims this year is 10,871 pilgrims," said Chinese Haj campaign leader Ibrahim Hong Changyou, "the largest in history."

"Their departure after performing Haj will start from 25th December, 2007 until the 16th of January, 2008."

The Chinese consulate said the number of Muslims in China has hugely increased in the last few years.

"Muslims are among all levels of the society and the people who are financially capable to perform Haj are the ones expected to come," said Changyou at a press conference.
The Chinese Haj campaign has arranged special flights to transport Chinese pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, to ease the expenses on them.

"We minimized the number of pilgrims who are not registered officially in the Chinese Haj campaign that the consulate usually supervises," Changyou added.