ISTANBUL, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- As winds whipped across the Anatolian plateau, driving temperatures toward freezing, the roar of a hot air balloon burner pierced the stillness over Cappadocia, sending bursts of orange flame into the darkening sky, where Chinese characters gleamed: "Auspicious Year of the Horse."
With the arrival of the Chinese New Year, this scene has now become a common sight in Türkiye's Anatolian region, which is densely populated with tourist attractions.
Across Türkiye, the celebration of the Chinese New Year is also taking shape, with horse-shaped displays, red lanterns, and characters of "Fu" (meaning fortune) signaling a series of tourism initiatives aimed at Chinese travelers.
Cappadocia, often referred to as the "Land of Beautiful Horses," is expected to play a central role in welcoming Chinese visitors during the Year of the Horse celebrations, said Sinan Seha Turkseven, general manager of the Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency.
To celebrate the Chinese New Year, two special balloons were commissioned locally. One carried the bilingual greeting "Auspicious Year of the Horse," while another was shaped like a horse.
"If horseback riding is the horse on the ground, then balloons are the horse in the sky," said Zhang Mengping, a tourist from southwest China's Sichuan Province.
"I've been to quite a few countries before, but Türkiye felt very different to me," said Zhang. "It's more than just beautiful." She noted that seeing familiar Chinese elements abroad made her feel at home.
Li Jia, from east China's Jiangsu Province, chose to spend this Spring Festival in Türkiye with her best friend. Cappadocia was the second stop on their 11-day trip.
They didn't expect to see so many Spring Festival elements abroad. The Chinese-Turkish Food Street brought together Chinese specialties like "donkey rolls" and hand-pulled noodles with Turkish delicacies such as kebabs and mussels.
Li said the traditional Chinese Year of the Horse elements were perfectly intertwined with the Turkish hot air balloons, creating a familiar yet surprising experience.
Mustafa Karsli, vice president of the Turkish-Chinese Cultural Association, noted, "The horse has long served as a shared cultural symbol linking our civilizations." He added that Spring Festival celebrations across Türkiye have expanded significantly this year, with hotels and companies organizing events nationwide.
According to Turkseven, a "Chinese Village" is set up in Cappadocia for the Chinese New Year, along with horse shows, themed festivals, cultural activities, and tour programs specifically designed for Chinese visitors.
Meanwhile, the Archaeological Site of Troy, a UNESCO-listed site for the Trojan War in Homer's Iliad, will also be featured in special tour programs for Chinese travelers. "Visiting Troy and its museum during the Year of the Horse would provide a meaningful cultural experience," said Turkseven.
Turkseven also highlighted efforts to improve travel convenience for Chinese tourists, including expanded air connectivity and specialized services at Istanbul Airport, which has been designated a "China-Friendly Airport" with Chinese-speaking staff and tailored support.
"We are steadily expanding the pool of Chinese-speaking tourism staff and licensed guides across the country," he said.
According to Turkseven, China is now one of the fastest-growing sources of tourists for Türkiye, with the number of travelers continuing to rise rapidly in recent years.
Following Türkiye's introduction of visa-free travel for ordinary Chinese passport holders earlier this year, "Türkiye aims to gradually raise arrivals from China to more than 1 million in the coming years," he said.
