BEIJING: When Hu Jianfeng stepped onto the lively streets of Changsha, a city often hailed as a paradise for foodies, the smoky scent of sizzling tofu hit her before she even saw the stall.
The Singaporean traveler finally got her first bite of Changsha’s famously pungent stinky tofu, wandered through buzzing shopping malls and historic alleyways, and marveled at how easily she could navigate this unfamiliar city in central China’s Hunan Province with nothing more than a smartphone.
“Changsha left such a deep impression on me,” Hu said. “I’d especially love to recommend its delicious street food and exquisite embroidery to my friends.”
Hu was among an increased number of overseas tourists who traveled to China during the recent May Day holiday, which ended on Monday.
Official data showed that the five-day holiday — a peak time for family outings and tourism — saw nearly 10.9 million inbound and outbound trips made by Chinese and foreign nationals, up 28.7 percent from the same period last year. Of these trips, over 1.1 million were made by foreigners, up a sharp 43.1 percent.
A recent report from Chinese travel platform Trip.com Group found that inbound travel bookings during the May Day holiday surged 130 percent compared to last year.
While top-tier cities such as Shanghai, Guangzhou and Beijing remained popular, destinations such as Chengdu, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Zhuhai and Xi’an also made the list of top inbound travel choices, according to the report.
Over the past three weeks, Sophie Girschewski, a German engineer living in Beijing, joined her visiting friends for part of their journey across China, from walking along the ancient stones of the Great Wall to exploring the windblown dunes near the Mogao Grottoes in Gansu Province.
“We are interested in Chinese culture and also the diversity of the landscape,” Girschewski said, adding that they were especially impressed by everyday foods like noodle soup or malatang, which is a spicy, hotpot-like dish of vegetables and meat cooked in a flavorful broth. Beyond sightseeing, culinary and cultural experiences came out on top in the minds of many visitors during the May Day holiday, said experts with Trip.com Group.
In Hunan’s Zhangjiajie, which is known for its spectacular mountain scenery that has inspired scenes in global blockbuster movies, the Manxin countryside resort has reported a surge in bookings from the United States, Italy and Spain.
“Guests really love the hands-on countryside activities,” said the resort’s marketing director, Sunny, listing off activities such as muddy loach catching, fish scooping in rice paddies, and Tujia ethnic music events.
“China is a super diverse country with so many different things that you can do,” Girschewski said. “Big cities like Beijing and Shanghai are modern, convenient, and international in many ways, while rural China is different. That contrast is what makes it one of the most interesting countries to explore.”
Interest in China as a travel destination is also visible in the shopping sector.
In Changsha, Thai tourist Thanaporn Toeysiriset made a beeline for Bailian Outlets before her flight home. There, she finally found a pair of shoes she had been searching for, and used China’s departure tax refund service. –Agencies
