"Before going to Central Asia I had only a vague idea of what it is like," said Yu Shengnan, 31, an office worker in Guangzhou, Guangdong province.

"I chose to go there because I was planning a low-cost world trip and realized that cities such as Almaty and Samarkand were affordable transit points for traveling through the Middle East."

Yu, who completed her 300-day around-the-world trip last year, said she was delighted by what Central Asia had to offer.

"For me, Central Asia was full of wonderful surprises. There's a lot of stunning natural landscapes and rich historical heritage to explore. The architecture is diverse, with Soviet-era style to be found next to magnificent mosques. I've been to many Arab countries, but the mosques in Samarkand are astonishing. Central Asia really does provide an unforgettable experience."

The visa-free policy adopted by China and Kazakhstan last year has added to the allure of Central Asian countries for Chinese tourists, who can now stay in Kazakhstan for up to 30 days visa-free, and in Uzbekistan for 10 days. Last year, about 217,000 Chinese tourists visited Kazakhstan, a twelvefold increase from 2022, according to official figures.