Barnsley could be the new Bethlehem says Chinese tourist

Mary Lui, 58, is one of the first Chinese tourists to visit Barnsley to pay their respects to Christian missionary James Hudson Taylor, who was born in the South Yorkshire town in 1832.

She is currently enjoying a three-week holiday in Barnsley to visit the missionary’s birthplace - and is convinced her fellow countrymen wil soon follow suit.

The retired maths lecturer from Beijing, who says she loves Barnsley so much she plans to move there permanently, said: “Hudson Taylor is a hero in my nation.

“He came to China, learned our language and embraced our culture. There are now 70 million Christians in China and many of them will want to come and see his birthplace.

“It’s the 150th anniversary of the launch of his mission organisation in 2014, and I expect thousands of people to visit Barnsley then.”

Owen Gleadall, president of the Rotherham and Barnsley chamber of commerce, said about 200 Chinese people had visited Barnsley in the last year.

He added: “In 2011 there were 150,000 Chinese visitors to Britain and they spent £240m - an average of £1,600 per person.

“If they spent that around Barnsley and South Yorkshire it would be phenomenal.”

Earlier this month, a sign written in both English and Chinese was put up at Gateway Church, in Mottram Street, to welcome visitors to the town.