China's Muslims trek to Mecca

More than 13,000 Chinese Muslims who received government approval to travel have flown to Mecca, Saudi Arabia to join the annual Hajj, the holy Muslim pilgrimage, officials said Monday.

The Hajj starts on October 24 and lasts about four days.

Ma Zhongping, deputy director of the China Islamic Association, told the Global Times that pilgrims will participate in various rites including walking seven times counter-clockwise around the Kaaba at the center of the al-Harma Mosque, praying or reciting the Koran on the plain near Mount Arafat.

Chinese Muslims will stay in nine different hotels near the Grand Mosque in Mecca, the Xinhua News Agency reported. Doctors and chefs were also assigned to help pilgrims with daily life.

"There has been a gradual increase in the number of Chinese pilgrims over the past years," Ma said.

The number of Chinese Muslims making the pilgrimage first exceeded 10,000 in 2007 and climbed to 13,300 in 2010. This year 13,800 Muslims will make the pilgrimage. 

The country has more than 20 million Muslims, about half are members of the Hui ethnic minority.

"China currently forbids its citizens to travel to Mecca on their own, following the request by the Saudi Arabian government," said Ma, adding that 3 million Muslims are expected to visit Mecca this year.

"We had around 1,000 people in Shaanxi Province applying for the trip, but only 279 people ended up going," Zhao Wenqi, an imam from Xi'an, told the Global Times.

Provinces and autonomous regions with large Muslim populations are provided a quota of worshipers who are given clearance to make the pilgrimage. Gansu Province, which has a larger community of Hui Muslims than Shaanxi, sent more than 2,700 pilgrims this year. The quota is mostly reserved for Muslims who have yet to make the pilgrimage.

The State Administration for Religious Affairs allows healthy Muslims within a certain age range (usually between 35 and 75) who are financially capable to apply.

The trip, including lodging and flight tickets, could cost 30,000 yuan ($4,786). "More people are now able to afford the trip," added Ma.

"Going to Mecca is something every Muslim dreams to accomplish in their lifetime," said Zhao, the imam from Xi'an who made his pilgrimage in 2010. He described the experience as "dreamlike" and "deeply spiritual."

"We met Muslims from around the world and talked about what it's like to be a Muslim in China," Zhao said, adding that they were able to clarify long-held misconceptions.