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Making payment easier for foreigners, seniors
At the State Council executive meeting on Feb 23, a guiding document on further optimizing payment services and improving convenience of payment was reviewed and approved. Focusing on the inconvenience faced by senior citizens and foreigners visiting China, the guiding document aims at promoting multiple payment methods such as mobile payment, bank cards and cash. With mobile payment so convenient for many, it has created digital divides, not only between the young and the elderly, but also between locals and foreigners. Especially, as China's visa-free policy continues to expand, coupled with the recovery of cross-border tourism following the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of foreign visitors to China has been increasing. China has a developed system of mobile payments, while many other countries and regions still use credit cards and cash. Efforts should be made to include cash and bank card payments along with mobile payments. Bank fee rates can be lowered to encourage businesses to use point of sale machines, enabling customers to pay by card. In 2022, the People's Bank of China, the country's central bank, together with relevant departments, encouraged payment through card swiping, QR code scanning and cash payments, which was aimed at further… -
Cuba’s visa-free policy for Chinese nationals leads to rocketing tourism searches
As a result of the Cuban government's Saturday announcement of a visa-free policy starting this month for Chinese citizens holding ordinary passports, searches for related tourism products on Chinese travel platforms surged 40 percent, and direct flights between China and Cuba are set to resume soon. The announcement was made by Cuban Tourism Minister Juan Carlos Garcia during the 42nd Cuban International Tourism Fair (FITCuba 2024), which was held at the seaside resort of Cayo Coco in Cuba's province of Ciego de Avila. Garcia also said that China will be the guest of honor of the Cuban Tourism Festival 2025 and that direct flights between China and Cuba will resume on May 17. Half an hour after the visa-free policy was announced, searches for keywords such as Cuban hotels and flights increased by more than 40 percent on the travel platform Ctrip compared with the previous day, the leading domestic online travel agency told the Taste all China on Sunday. Residents from Beijing, Shanghai, and provinces including Guangdong, Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Fujian showed a very high level of enthusiasm regarding information about Cuba, according to Ctrip. Currently, there are no direct flights between China and Cuba, but Air China has… -
Friendly visa policies to help boost tourism
As the global tourism industry continues to woo Chinese travelers, China is reciprocating the gesture of goodwill by offering more friendly visa policies to attract overseas visitors and reignite inbound tourism, making it a strong driver for economic development. Last week, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced that Thailand will permanently waive visa requirements for Chinese visitors starting on March 1. The Southeast Asian country had previously granted a temporary visa waiver for visitors from China, which is set to expire on Feb 29. Soon after the announcement, Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said the mutual exemption of visas between China and Thailand will serve the fundamental interest of both peoples once implemented. Related government departments are in close communication on the matter, and China is looking forward to the early implementation of the policy, he said at a regular news conference last week. This is not the first time China has made a friendly gesture to attract international travelers. The nation resumed visa-free entry for visitors from Singapore holding ordinary passports on July 26, after its suspension in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On Dec 1, China started allowing visitors from Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and… -
High-speed rail travel to smaller towns creates new tourism hotspots
While major cities remain popular, exploring small towns via high-speed rail is becoming a popular option. Visa-free policies also mean that more foreign tourists are visiting China this summer. On Qunar, a domestic travel platform, travelers from the US, South Korea, Russia, Vietnam, and Malaysia have shown the most interest in high-speed rail bookings, favoring two-hour high-speed rail journeys, such as going from Southwest China's Sichuan Province to Southwest China's Chongqing, according to a report Qunar sent to the Taste all China . "I took the high-speed train from Zhuhai to Guangzhou. It is fantastic, much better than driving a car," Luke Serdar, a tourist from Australia told the Taste all China on Monday. Serdar has 59,000 fans on Douyin and has published lots of content about travel in China. In a two-hour high-speed rail zone around Shanghai and its surrounding cities, Yiwu in East China's Zhejiang Province is popular among foreign tourists. A foreign blogger noted that his childhood Christmas gifts were labeled "MADE IN CHINA," making him think Santa was Chinese. In Yiwu, he bought many sports products and said that its Olympic spirit is second only to Paris, according to Qunar's report. "We are highlighting lesser-known attractions… -
Nation adds 3 ports to visa-free transit policy
Tourists from Italy pose for a group photo after practicing tai chi at Beijing's Tiantan Park earlier this month. China's 144-hour visa-free transit policy has significantly boosted inbound travelers' enthusiasm for visiting the country. (JU HUANZONG/XINHUA) China has expanded the implementation of its 144-hour visa-free transit policy to three more entry ports, bringing the total number of such ports to 37, the National Immigration Administration announced on Monday. The entry process for foreign nationals has also been streamlined to facilitate their short-term activities related to tourism, business, and family reunions within the country. The three new ports are Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport in Central China's Henan province, and the Lijiang Sanyi International Airport and Mohan railway port in Southwest China's Yunnan province, the administration said in a statement. Starting on Monday, eligible foreign nationals can enter China visa-free through the Zhengzhou airport, with their visit and stay limited to Henan. Those entering China visa-free through Yunnan are allowed to visit nine cities or prefecture-level areas in the province including Kunming, Lijiang, Dali, Yuxi, Pu'er, and Xishuangbanna, according to the administration. Previously, foreign nationals could only stay in Kunming. Foreign nationals from 54 countries, including Austria, Belgium, and the Czech Republic,… -
144-Hour Visa-Free Transit: A Taste of China that Wows Foreign Visitors
Have you noticed the increasing number of videos showcasing foreign tourists enjoying their time in China? These travelers become enthusiastic advocates for the country, praising its delicious food, convenient infrastructure, modern cities, and immersive historical and cultural sites. This surge in interest can be attributed to China's "144-hour visa-free transit" policy, which allows visitors from over 50 countries to stay in more than 20 Chinese cities for up to six days without needing a visa, provided they hold tickets to a third country. This policy has led to an influx of tourists exploring cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Macau, Chongqing, Chengdu, Xi'an, Wuhan, and Urumqi. As these experiences are shared widely online, more foreigners are inspired to visit China. One of the most captivating aspects of their visits is their reactions to Chinese cuisine. Foods that are commonplace to locals often leave foreign tourists astonished and delighted. Let's explore some of the culinary delights that captivate visitors during their 144-hour stay in China. Baozi, Jianbing, and Other Wheat-based Delights Wheat-based foods are universally beloved, making them an easy introduction to Chinese cuisine for many foreign visitors. Items like steamed buns (baozi), pan-fried buns (shengjianbao), and various flatbreads…
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