Türkiye's Istanbul welcomes 1st Chinese tourist group after pandemic

STORY: Türkiye's Istanbul welcomes 1st Chinese tourist group after pandemic DATELINE: Aug. 18, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:57 LOCATION: ISTANBUL, Türkiye CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Istanbul 2. various of Sultanahmet Square, Hagia Sophia in Istanbul 3. various of Chinese tourist groups in Istanbul 4. various of China's deputy consul general in Istanbul Wu Jian meeting a group of Chinese tourists 5. various of Chinese tourists STORYLINE: Istanbul, one of Türkiye's most visited cities, welcomed on Thursday its first Chinese tourist group after China lifted the group tour ban to Türkiye on Aug. 10. The 12-member tour group will take an 8-day trip across Türkiye. Wu Jian, China's deputy consul general in Istanbul, accompanied the group to tour the historical Sultanahmet Square, surrounded by the iconic Basilica Cistern, Hagia Sophia, and Blue Mosque. Wu told the group that a series of meetings are being held between Turkish authorities and the Chinese consulate focusing on the safe and trouble-free trav