BEIJING: During the Spring Festival holiday, crowds of foreign travelers were spotted visiting destinations across China. They explored not only major cities such as Beijing and Shanghai for the festive atmosphere and heritage sites, but also small cities like Leshan in Sichuan province for the awe-inspiring giant cliffside Buddha stone statue, and Lingshui Li autonomous county in Hainan province for pristine beaches and a respite from winter’s chill.
Boosted by visa facilitation policies, diverse cultural and tourism activities, and improved services, foreign visitors’ willingness to visit China has been greatly enhanced and peaked during the holiday.
“Yunnan is one of the most beautiful places in China. We enjoyed the province’s beautiful landscape, such as the tropical forests, green mountains and clear lakes. We were also impressed by its friendly people,” said Sascha Scholz, from Germany, who traveled to Yunnan with his wife and son during the Spring Festival holiday.
“We really like the spicy Yunnan cuisine, such as pork and beef dishes, and also the sweet, delicious flower cakes filled with fragrant rose paste,” Scholz said.
The “Yunnan — A Many-Splendored Life” tourist campaign is drawing visitors like them with its stunning views, soothing hot springs, aromatic local coffees and diverse culture.
During the Spring Festival holiday, the average daily volume of air ticket orders from inbound tourists to China saw a year-on-year increase of 21.29 percent, according to online travel agency Trip.com Group. Inbound tourists showed great interest in in-depth cultural experiences, such as those available at museums and exhibition halls.
Official data showed that in 2025, Yunnan received about 7.86 million inbound arrivals from South Asian and Southeast Asian countries, accounting for 52.2 percent of its total inbound arrivals. –The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
