Khorgos is a small Chinese city located on the border with Kazakhstan. The construction of the town began only 3 years ago, but every day its population is growing. This is due to the fact that Khorgos is a duty-free zone where producer prices are set. Due to the cheapness of goods, you can buy literally everything: from real Chinese tea to tires or mink coats.
What is this city?
Khorgos is located between China and Kazakhstan, in the Panfilov district of Almaty region. As planned by the builders, in Khorgos it will be possible to conclude contracts and buy products directly through manufacturers, which will save time and money. In fact, it is a duty free city.
Such an idea came about after Kazakhstan and China expressed a mutual desire to conduct mutually beneficial cooperation and trade. Kazakhstanis are increasingly going to China to Khorgos for shopping, and tour operators offer profitable shopping tours.
Transition and Shopping Rules
- All people who want to cross the border must have a valid passport. Tourists from Kazakhstan must also undergo mandatory registration.
- Each visitor is allowed to buy and take out goods for his own use in the amount of not more than 1500 euros once in 30 days without paying a fee. A weight limit on purchases of 50 kg has also been established.
- Goods can be carried through a customs terminal in a bag measuring 60 × 40 × 20 cm and weighing a maximum of 35 kg. This is considered carry-on baggage.
- If the goods exceed the permissible dimensions, they must be sent by mail (Kazpost JSC). In order to have time to do this, it is better to turn in purchases before 14 hours.
- At 9 a.m. the border gates open, but the line is already starting from 7 a.m. and even earlier. Over the weekend, about 5-7 thousand visitors pass through Khorgos, and about several thousand on weekdays.
- A one-day shopping tour costs about 7000-8000 tenge (about 1300 rubles).
- To get to Khorgos on the border with China, you will have to travel about 350 km along the Kuldzhinsky tract from Almaty or along the new autobahn.
- All visitors undergo mandatory customs and passport control.
- From the border to the bazaar people get on a bus, the fare in which is 500 tenge (89 rubles) one way.
- Purchases can be paid in dollars, yuan or tenge.
- Bulky products should be sent by Kazpost to calmly continue shopping.
- It is forbidden to export weapons (gas and pneumatic), stun guns, various devices intended for surveillance (handles with cameras, recording devices, etc.) from Chinese Khorgos.
What goods are considered personal items?
- Maximum 2 products of the same name, size, style per 1 buyer: leather goods, bedding, various items of clothing.
- Maximum 10 kg of any food.
- 3 units of perfumery, cosmetic products, toilet accessories with the same name.
- 5 jewelry.
- Maximum 1 item of the same size, style, name: household appliances, fur / leather products, prams, bicycles, electrical appliances.
Famous shopping centers
To date, 7 large shopping malls operate on the border of China with Kazakhstan in Khorgos:
- Golden Port, offering customers baby products, wedding dresses, a variety of clothing items, car accessories, Chinese pharmaceutical products.
- "Yiwu" is a huge pavilion in which more than 7000 trade shops with a total area of more than 155 hectares
- "Jian Yuan" - a center with 300 departments, which sell a variety of goods for home and leisure.
- "Zhong Ke" - a complex with 500 points with products for home and own use.
- "Zhong Ke-2."
- "King Kong" (fur city). These are approximately 600 counters where they sell not only fur products, but also automobile accessories and telephones.
- "Feng E".
In addition to large shopping centers, there are also working here: Hong Kong, Korean, German duty-free duty-free shops, and the Dong Fang Jin Xiu trade and exhibition pavilion.
How to get there?
You can get to the bazaar by car, train or tourist bus:
- By car you can drive along the new modern highway Almaty - Khorgos (China). It is about 3 hours drive. It is allowed to go at a speed of 110 km / h. The fare on the new autobahn is 300 tenge (53 rubles). You can drive along the old road through the Kuldzhinsky highway. In this case, travel will be free, but the journey in time will be 5 hours.
- By tourist bus to Khorgos Bazaar in China. The trip takes about 7 hours in the warm season and about 8 hours in the winter.
- On the passenger train Almaty-Altynkol. The train number is 393T, departs at 23:15 from the Almaty-2 station and arrives at 5:21 at the Altinkol station. Total travel time is a little over 6 hours. The train 393Ц goes back. Departs at 20:59, and arrives back at 3:35. Tickets cost 1626 tenge (290 rubles) in the reserved seat and 2499 tenge (445 rubles) in the compartment.
- By minibus from Altynkol station. Ticket price - 500-800 tenge (89-143 rubles).
Where can I eat in Khorgos (China)?
Dishes of Kazakh cuisine are sold in the following establishments:
- In the dining room of the building of the ICBC Khorgos JSC.
- In the cafe "Almaly", which is located near the hotel Suxin.
- In a small pavilion near the Samruk building.
- In a cafe called Qazaq Street Food, which is located in front of the passage "Arch".
National Chinese cuisine can be found in such places:
- In the restaurant of the Dong Fang Jin Xu complex.
- In the pavilions on the street near the Golden Port shopping center.
- On the 5th floor of the shopping center "Zhong Ke-2".
Where to stay overnight?
If you decide to stay in Khorgos of China for the night, then the Dong Fan hotel, the SCO or inexpensive hostels work for you.
A hotel room will cost approximately 12-15 thousand tenge per day (2139-2674 rubles). In the hostel, of course, the cost of living will be cheaper - 4-5 thousand tenge (713-900 rubles).
Who is forbidden to cross the border of China?
- Visitors in hijabs.
- To those who have a beard.
- Tourists in clothes that depict the moon or star.
The implementation of this rule is monitored by the Chinese police, and if visitors are violated, they are deployed back.
What you need to take on the road?
- Foreign passport and passport with IIN (located at the bottom of the page).
- Large durable bags or bags.
- Food and food for breakfast and lunch, which will be needed on the road to Khorgos (China) and while crossing the border.
- Personal hygiene items and water.
