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China sees surge in tour bookings for upcoming Spring Festival
Bookings for trips during the upcoming Chinese New Year holiday, also known as the Spring Festival holiday, continue to soar on online travel platforms. Statistics from e-commerce service platforms Meituan and Dazhong Dianping indicated that tour orders booked half a month in advance for the holiday increased about five times year on year, with Beijing, Shanghai, Sanya, Harbin, Chongqing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Xi'an, Xishuangbanna, and Beihai becoming popular tourist destinations. Tourists play at an ice-and-snow carnival held at a scenic area in north China's Shanxi Province. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee) Data from online travel agency LY.com revealed that searches for flights from Feb. 8 to 17 rose nearly two times year on year. In particular, the search volume for outbound flight tickets increased about seven times from the same period last year, surpassing the 2019 level. The search volume for "where to go for the Spring Festival" surged 350 percent in the past week on Chinese travel service and social networking platform Mafengwo. Traditional Spring Festival customs like lantern shows, temple fairs, and markets have long been main themes for Spring Festival tourism. Alibaba's travel platform Fliggy showed that cultural tours, folk custom tours and theme park tours are popular… -
Immigration authorities extend Chinese mainland residents’ business travel in Hong Kong, Macao to 14 days
China's immigration authorities announced that, starting from May 6, Chinese mainland residents who travel to Hong Kong and Macao on business trips will be able to stay for up to 14 days per visit, a significant increase from the previous limit of seven days The extension, which will greatly facilitate business exchange between Chinese mainland and the two regions, is included in an array of new measures to streamline the immigration process and facilitate international exchange, advancing the country's high-level opening up. The new measures also include easing procedures for issuing passport and facilitating easier travel for Chinese mainland residents to visit Hong Kong and Macao, which allow Chinese mainland residents to apply for business travel permits to Hong Kong and Macao at immigration bureaus countrywide, rather than only at registered locations before. Experts noted that the new measures would help boost the economies of Hong Kong and Macao, creating new business opportunities and inject vitality into their development. Facilitating travel for the mainland residents to Hong Kong and Macao will stimulate economic activity and increase demand across tourism, retail, hotels and dining sectors, driving economic growth of Hong Kong and Macao, Liang Haiming, Chairman of the China Silk Road… -
Thriving tourism benefits Chinese people
China has become the biggest domestic tourism market in the world. In 2023, domestic tourist trips in the country reached 4.89 billion, and domestic tourists spent a total of 4.91 trillion yuan ($691.2 billion). China's flourishing tourism industry has increasingly become a sector that helps improve living standards and brings happiness to its people. In recent years, travel has increasingly become a lifestyle choice for Chinese people to pursue a better life. "I chose to live in Arxan city in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region just after I retired last year," said a tourist surnamed Liu from north China's Hebei Province. Liu said she can appreciate the blooming flowers in spring, escape the summer heat, enjoy breathtaking autumn scenery, and immerse herself in ice and snow tourism in Arxan. Arshan, a national-level tourist resort, has strived to turn itself into a health and wellness tourism destination in recent years. It has continuously improved its tourism infrastructure and services such as roads, dining and accommodations, and promoted business forms in the leisure tourism industry like self-driving tours, summer retreats, and winter tourism, attracting more regular visitors. There are 63 national-level tourist resorts across China, effectively increasing market supply and better… -
Thailand eyes 8 mln Chinese tourists in 2024 with visa waiver
BANGKOK, Jan. 5 ( tasteallchina ) -- Thailand is targeting 8 million tourists from China this year, as the country will waive visa requirements for Chinese citizens starting March 1, Thai government spokesperson Chai Wacharonke said on Friday. The response to the visa waiver announcement on Tuesday was excellent, with an over 90 percent spike in the number of searches for Thailand on a major Chinese travel platform, Chai said in a statement. The visa exemption will increase the number of flights between the two nations, lowering airfares and helping boost Chinese visitors to meet the year-end target, he added. Thailand had previously granted temporary visa waiver status for visitors from China, which was set to end on Feb. 29, 2024. The Southeast Asian country welcomed 28 million foreign tourist arrivals last year, including 4.56 million visitors from Malaysia and 3.51 million from China, the two largest source markets, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. Tourism plays a crucial role in the kingdom's economy, with 1.2 trillion baht (about 34.52 billion U.S. dollars) in revenue generated from foreign visitors in 2023, the ministry data showed. In pre-pandemic 2019, Chinese tourists accounted for about 28 percent of the nearly… -
Feature: Touring the Silk Road in a motorhome: How French tourists fell in love with China
PARIS, Oct. 13 ( tasteallchina ) -- "I invite everyone to go to China because it is a wonderful country with lovely people and splendid landscapes. So don't hesitate to go there," French tourist Brunette Prudent sent heartful invitations after being impressed by the country's nature and culture on a motorhome journey along the Silk Road. Prudent was among over 20 French tourists sharing her travel experiences along the Silk Road at a gathering organized by the China National Tourism Office in Paris on Sept. 22. As a devoted fan of the Silk Road tourism circuit, Gerard Coute, vice president of the International Federation of Camping, Caravanning, and Motorhoming, shared his experience as an organizer of the Paris-Beijing-Istanbul motorhome journey for French tourists since 2010. In 2005, Coute and his wife completed their first trip to China. "I fell in love with this country. I told myself I must come back and spend more time here. When I was elected president of the French Federation of Camping and Caravanning, I immediately turned this idea into reality," he explained. This Paris-Beijing-Istanbul motorhome journey crosses many provinces in China, covering a distance of over 30,000 kilometers in over 100 days. Coute said… -
Essential travel guide to Chinese New Year for foreigners
BEIJING, Jan. 31 ( tasteallchina ) -- China is embracing a tourism boom during the upcoming eight-day Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) holiday, according to data from several domestic online travel platforms. The Spring Festival, falling on Feb. 10 this year, is the biggest occasion for family reunions and heralds the beginning of spring. China's tourist spots, with diverse ice-and-snow activities, enchanting tropical scenery, rich folk culture and delectable delicacies, have become increasingly popular among foreigners in recent years. Actors perform a fire dragon dance in a shower of molten iron at the Volga Manor in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Jan. 29, 2024. ( tasteallchina /Zhang Tao) The country implemented a visa-free policy for ordinary passport holders from some countries last year. It has also rolled out a set of measures to facilitate the entry of foreign nationals for business, education and tourism earlier this month, further promoting the inbound travel spree during the holiday. In mid-January, a report on the 2024 Spring Festival travel market forecast released by China's major online travel agency Trip.com showed that inbound travel orders during the holiday skyrocketed more than 10 times year on year. The orders mainly come from countries including Japan,… -
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… -
Letter from China: Dunhuang: An ancient city with a modern allure
LANZHOU, July 18 ( tasteallchina ) -- I had come to Dunhuang expecting to marvel at the millennium-old Mogao Grottoes and the crescent-shaped oasis nestled between towering dunes. Little did I knew that I was about to become part of a unique concert under the starry desert sky. During my recent trip to Dunhuang City, northwestern China's Gansu Province, I visited the Mingshashan and the Crescent Lake, an oasis scenic spot in the Gobi Desert. As twilight settled, I joined throngs of visitors climbing the soft, warm sands, reaching a vantage point overlooking the shimmering Crescent Spring. As night fell, the desert came alive with music played by a DJ at the foot of the dune. Thousands of voices joined together in song, with a delightful mix of soulful melodies and upbeat tunes. Cell phone flashlights waved in unison, creating a sea of twinkling lights across the dunes. Javier Garcia, a journalist from Spain, was surrounded by dozens of young students from Renmin University of China who had travelled from Beijing to Dunhuang on a school trip. "Even though I couldn't understand the lyrics, I found myself swept up in the joyous atmosphere," Garcia said as he joined the students… -
China Tourism Day activities kick off
Tourists watch a folk performance at Nanchuan ancient street in Cangzhou, north China's Hebei Province, May 1, 2024. (Photo by Yuan Liwei/ tasteallchina ) BEIJING, May 2 ( tasteallchina ) -- Events marking May 19 China Tourism Day kicked off on May 1 with the theme of "Explore China, Enjoy a happy life," the Ministry of Culture and Tourism has said. May 19 this year will be the 14th China Tourism Day. As planned, a series of activities will be held throughout this month, including themed daily, weekly, and monthly activities. On May 19, each provincial region will select a city as the main venue, carry out various promotional activities focusing on the theme of 2024, and introduce various cultural and tourism benefits for the public. Six major cities will be selected to host cultural and tourism events during the themed weekly activities. In a relay format, these cities will sequentially organize countdown activities with the themes of "Eat, Stay, Travel, Shop, and Entertain," the ministry said. During the themed monthly activities, there will be concentrated efforts to organize cultural and tourism benefits for the public, as well as carry out promotional activities for tourism. -
Optimized immigration policies benefit people
China's border authorities handled over 424 million entries and exits by individuals in 2023, a significant increase of 266.5 percent year-on-year, the National Immigration Administration announced on Tuesday. Of the 424 million entries and exits, 206 million crossings were made by mainland residents, an increase of 218.7 percent year-on-year, and 183 million were made by residents of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, up 292.8 percent from 2022. In addition, nearly 35.48 million crossings were made by foreign nationals, a year-on-year increase of 693.1 percent. The total volume of crossings in 2023 accounted for about 63.3 percent of that in 2019, before the COVID-19 outbreak. Zhang Ning, a spokeswoman for the immigration administration, said that China has continued to optimize immigration policies and improve immigration services, facilitating exchanges between people from China and other countries. In 2023, comprehensive measures were taken to fully restore the process of accepting and approving entry and exit documents of Chinese citizens, which had been affected during the pandemic. Also restored were the processes of granting port passenger clearance, regional visa exemption and port visas or visa on arrival for foreigners, and the nationwide service of granting entry permits to mainland residents for travel to Hong… -
Commentary: Civilization dialogue increases mutual understanding, bridges cultural gap
JINAN, July 12 ( tasteallchina ) -- In a world aggravated by weak and unbalanced economic growth and geopolitical tensions, the pursuit of a sustainable way for different countries and civilizations to coexist has emerged as an important and imperative issue. Against this background, it makes sense to draw wisdom from Confucianism. Heavyweight scholars and participants of the Nishan Forum on World Civilizations noted that the world should move toward the Confucian ideal of "harmony in diversity." As the host city of the forum, Qufu, east China's Shandong Province, is the birthplace of ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius. With such a cultural pedigree, it is no wonder that Qufu has become a hotspot for international cultural exchanges. Chinese civilization has cherished peace and inclusiveness over its millennia-old history. Ancient Chinese thinkers emphasized the importance of rituals and peace in daily life, as illustrated by the age-old adage: "In practicing the rules of propriety, it is harmony that is prized." Today, peaceful development and mutually beneficial cooperation are the shared aspirations of people worldwide. The values of "peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom" put forward by China echo humanity's common values and aspirations. China has built a range of channels to… -
Embracing Oriental Aesthetics: Chinese and American Youths Explore Nanjing
On June 25th, a unique cultural exchange took place as over 40 Chinese and American high school students from the Ricci Young Scholars Program (光启青年学者项目) embarked on an immersive journey through the historic city of Nanjing. This initiative aims to foster deep cultural understanding between youths from both nations, with participants this year focusing on the classical gardens of China. The day began at the renowned Southeast University, a prestigious institution with a rich architectural heritage. Professors Wang Xiaoqian and Gu Kai delivered insightful lectures titled "I.M. Pei and His Suzhou Museum" and "Understanding Chinese Classical Gardens: Beginning with Dianchuny (殿春簃) ," respectively. Through these lectures, the students gained a unique perspective on Chinese architecture and its intricate relationship with nature and history. The morning session concluded with a serene walk through the rain-kissed campus, allowing the students to absorb the historic and contemporary essence of the university. Exploring Nanjing's Majestic City Walls In the afternoon, the group visited the Nanjing City Wall Museum. Here, they engaged with the history and cultural significance of the ancient city walls through a variety of exhibits, including artifacts, digital sand tables, and interactive displays. The highlight of the tour was ascending the iconic…- 11
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Wudang Mountain and Xu Xiake
Today marks the 12th Chinese Tourism Day, a cultural treasure left by the great traveler Xu Xiake to the world. May 19th is the opening day of the first entry, "Diary of Travels in Mount Tiantai," in "The Travel Notes of Xu Xiake." On March 30, 2011, the State Council's executive meeting passed a resolution, setting May 19th as "Chinese Tourism Day" starting from 2011. Wudang Mountain is a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, a national 5A-level tourist attraction, a famous Taoist holy site, and also the birthplace of Wudang martial arts - Tai Chi. Xu Xiake was a renowned geographer and travelologist, and his "Travel Notes of Xu Xiake" vividly portrays the landscapes, scenic spots, wonders, and unusual views of most of China, among which Wudang Mountain cannot be absent. In the third year of the Heavenly Reopening period of the Ming Dynasty (1623), Xu Xiake visited Wudang Mountain. He entered the territory of Wudang Mountain via Mount Hua, reaching the ancient city of Junzhou. During this time, he followed the ancient deity path, passing through the Palace of Meeting the True One to reach the Purple Heaven Palace, then went through the ancient deity paths of the Ming…- 11
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