Get ready, adventurers! China is buzzing with excitement as tourists from all over the globe flock to the Chinese mainland ahead of the May Day holidays. According to Ctrip, a leading Chinese online travel service, there's been a significant jump in both inbound and outbound travel bookings. 🌍✈️
Data from the China Tourism Academy reveals that travelers are coming from countries like Malaysia, Thailand, the United Kingdom, Russia, and France. And where are they heading? Top cities like Shanghai, Guangzhou, Beijing, Hangzhou, Chengdu, Shenzhen, Chongqing, Xi'an, Qingdao, and Tianjin are the hotspots! 🏙️❤️
Over at Luohu Port in Shenzhen, more than 160,000 passengers have entered, transited, and departed, including over 2,400 foreign tourists. According to Shenzhen News, the staff at Luohu checkpoint are seeing a significant increase in foreign visitors, thanks to the implementation of visa-free policies between China and many countries. This means travelers can now plan their trips with ease, come when they wish, and dive into the rich tapestry of Chinese culture. 🎎🎉
On the first day of the May Day holiday, a wave of foreign tourists joined the 144-hour visa-free tour groups. This awesome policy allows people from certain countries to enjoy six days of exploration in select areas of the country without needing a visa beforehand. How cool is that? 😎🗺️
Statistics show that over 800 foreign tourists from the 144-hour visa-free tour groups passed through Luohu Port, breezing through customs and into their Chinese adventures. 🚶♂️🚶♀️
Wu Liyun, a professor at Beijing International Studies University's China Academy of Culture and Tourism, told the Global Times that this surge in travel is due to improved international people-to-people exchanges, visa-free policies, a growing demand for outbound travel, and continuous enhancements to transportation and amenities. 🚄🛳️
Wu predicts that the Chinese inbound and outbound tourism market is set to skyrocket in 2024, boosting the global tourism scene even further! 🌐📈
But that's not all! Local departments are stepping up their game to make travel even smoother. In Xi'an's Wulukou Station, brightly colored \"rainbow guides\" are catching everyone's eye. Subway staff have updated travel routes to tourist attractions, and these guides offer handy tips, placed right at the station entrances and exits. 🌈🚇
To make payments a breeze, many places have launched small-change exchange services with cash denominations of 5, 10, and 20 yuan. In Huangshan, Anhui Province, ATMs at various tourist spots now offer small-change exchange functions. Plus, the payment platform for the Huangshan Scenic Area has rolled out a multi-language feature! 💵💳
An American tourist shared with China Media Group that it's super convenient to scan QR codes on restaurant tables to order food. The system can directly translate Chinese into other languages, and when searching for \"Huangshan,\" tourists can access a host of services like hotels, meals, tickets, and reservations. Talk about user-friendly! 🍜📱
With all these amazing developments, it's clear that China is rolling out the red carpet for global travelers. So why wait? Pack your bags and experience the magic of the Chinese mainland yourself! 🧳✨
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
