Chinese blogger Tao Mingxiu, known online as Tao Tao, has been awarded Kazakhstan’s Dostyk Order, 2nd Class, for promoting the country abroad.
The award was presented by Aida Balayeva, Kazakhstan’s deputy prime minister and minister of culture and information.
Tao Mingxiu received the honor for promoting Kazakhstan in the Chinese media space, showcasing its cultural heritage and tourism potential, and strengthening humanitarian ties between Kazakhstan and China.
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Balayeva highlighted the significance of the blogger’s work, saying the Dostyk Order is a high state award recognizing contributions to friendship and cooperation.
She noted that Tao’s content has helped millions of people better understand Kazakhstan’s culture, nature and travel opportunities.
Growing influence and outreach
Tao first visited Kazakhstan in September 2024 as a media guest. Since then, she has traveled widely across the country, including trips to Astana and Almaty, as well as several regions.
She has published more than 100 pieces of content with a combined reach exceeding 1 billion views. In May 2025, she was named an official tourism ambassador of Kazakhstan.
Continued engagement
During her fifth visit, Tao traveled along the Almaty–Aktau–Turkestan route and took part in traditional celebrations, including the Nauryz holiday, further promoting Kazakh culture to international audiences.
