The lack of kosher food in Beijing may soon be solved, according to Shen Jian Xiang, director of the official China International Travel Service in Tel Aviv.
Talking to travel correspondents here, he said that several investors in Israel and elsewhere had expressed an interest in establishing a kosher restaurant in Beijing, to serve not only observant Israelis now beginning to visit China but also the needs of the many Jews worldwide traveling to China.
Shen expects some 5,500 Israelis will visit his country this year, traveling on the new El Al direct flight and the parallel service to be begun next year by Air China. Other Israelis and Jews are expected to arrive on other airlines coming from elsewhere.
Shen warned that it would be difficult, even for experienced travelers, to visit China on their own, not only because of language problems but also because established travel agencies are needed to obtain local air and rail tickets and hotel accommodations.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.