A record number of 10,700 Chinese Muslims are expected to perform Hajj this year, state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported from Beijing. It quoted the Islamic Association of China (IAC) as saying that it is the first time the figure has crossed the 10,000 mark. Between November 15 and December 7, Chinese Muslims will travel via 33 non-stop charter flights to Saudi Arabia and return between December 25 and January 16, according to IAC Vice Chairman Yang Zhipo. The First group of more than 3,940 pilgrims will leave Lanzhou, capital of northwest China's Gansu Province, for Saudi Arabia almost one month ahead of the Hajj. China has more than 20 million Muslims, mainly living in Xinjiang, Qinghai, Ganshu, Ningxia, Yunnan, Shaanxi, Inner Mongolia and Henan.
