Beijing, February 10: With the arrival of the 2026 Lunar New Year (Year of the Horse), this traditional Chinese festival is increasingly attracting foreign friends to visit China. Here, they can enjoy the Spring Festival by participating in festive activities, watching celebrations, savoring New Year’s Eve dinners, and exploring Spring Festival fairs. Many are coming to China to celebrate the Chinese New Year.
This year, the number of foreign tourists celebrating the Spring Festival in China has surged remarkably, with flight bookings for the festival increasing more than fourfold compared to last year.
The online craze for “China Travel,” which emerged in 2024, has now entered its second phase. It has shifted from “first-time trips” to immersive “experiences.” “China Travel” is redefining global understanding and experiences of China in unprecedented ways.
Statistics indicate that in 2025, a total of 82.035 million foreigners entered and exited China, marking a 26.4% increase compared to 2024. Among them, 3.8 million foreigners entered China without a visa, a 49.5% rise from the previous year. These figures reflect China’s continuously improving 144-hour visa-free transit policy, port visa facilitation measures, and the expansion of the 240-hour visa-free transit policy for 55 countries in 2025.
Mobile payments, shared bicycles, and high-speed rail networks have become everyday digital aspects of Chinese life, making them attractive symbols of modern China for foreign tourists. As they experience the festive atmosphere of the Chinese New Year, use mobile payments freely, and travel between Chinese cities via high-speed rail, these real experiences are quietly transforming the world’s perception of China.
From creating an “International Fashion Consumption Corridor” on Nanjing West Road in Shanghai to installing multilingual signboards at tourist attractions nationwide, and from over 95% foreign card payment coverage to “Buy Now, Refund Now” services for outbound tourists, China is enhancing the travel experience for international visitors with an unprecedented open approach. This includes appointing over a thousand tour guides fluent in less commonly spoken languages at the renowned Changchun tourism site and the widespread application of intelligent translation technology.
Foreign bloggers have authentically presented modern urban life and the daily routines of ordinary people in China, creating a reliable, charming, and respectful image of the country in a solid, vibrant, and diverse manner. A foreign influencer’s thought-provoking comment reflects this sentiment: “I think China is misunderstood and maligned.” This heartfelt empathy stems from firsthand observations. As foreign tourists wander through the streets and alleys of China and interact with local people, they see not just an abstract political entity but a vibrant, friendly, and welcoming modern society.
As Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Qian stated, the popularity of “China Travel” arises from China’s unique charm, the openness and inclusiveness of Chinese society, and the warmth and friendliness of its people. It is also a fruitful result of China’s ongoing efforts to promote high-level openness to the outside world.
Chinese poetry says, “True friends are not bound by distance, no matter how far apart they may be; they are like neighbors.” “China Travel” is not just a surge in tourism but the beginning of a profound dialogue between Chinese and foreign civilizations. It is an opportunity for the world to rediscover China and a bridge connecting China to the world. In this age filled with uncertainties, such mutual exchanges are perhaps what we need most—to dispel misunderstandings, build trust, and create a shared future through face-to-face meetings and heartfelt conversations.
From its land, China welcomes everyone! This is not just an invitation but a declaration of openness from an ancient civilization in a new era.
(Taken from China Media Group, Beijing)
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