Today, 46 years ago, on October 19, 1979 (August 29, 1979), Chinese Muslims marched to Mecca for pilgrimage. On October 19, 1979, a Chinese Muslim pilgrimage led by the Vice-Director of the Chinese Islamic Association, Muhammad Ali Zhengzhou and Saleh An-Swayah, departed from Kyoto to the Holy Place of Islam, Mecca. This was the first Chinese Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca since 1964.