A project to link the holy sites by train has led to the largest Chinese gathering in the Kingdom's history. The area by the sanctuaries of Arafat, which is outside the boundaries of the Holy Haram in Makkah, has turned into a Chinese city. More than 8,000 Chinese workers, 1,500 of whom have embraced Islam, are working round-the-clock shifts to carry out the project. It is expected that more than 6,000 Chinese workers will arrive in the next few weeks to help complete the project's first two phases before the beginning of this year's Haj season. The workers, who have brought the habits and traditions of their country, are staying in camps allotted for Muslims and non-Muslims. The men love to eat bananas, apples and macaroni, along with traditional dishes such as boiled meat, vegetables and noodle soup. After dining, they exercise and play their favorite games including a competition to display their strength by carrying cement bags. The site is also home to workers from Yemen, Sudan and Somalia. Despite the language barrier, many of those workers have befriended their Chinese colleagues and use hand gestures to communicate.
