Major ports in China are witnessing a significant increase in international tourist arrivals as the May Day holiday approaches, with more travelers looking to set sail and take in some sightseeing during the five-day-long holiday which officially begins Wednesday.
This year, the resumption of international passenger services has contributed to a boom in China's domestic tourism market, bringing a welcome economic boost, with Chinese ports seeing large numbers of tourists arriving from Japan and South Korea.
On Sunday, Yantai Port in east China's Shandong Province welcomed a sizable tour group from South Korea, as over 400 passengers arrived eager to explore the country's attractions.
"There will be two to three more tourist groups of similar scale visiting our country for sightseeing and exchanges," said Huang Weining, a border inspection officer at the Yantai border inspection station.
Similar scenes can be seen at the Dalian Port in northeast China's Liaoning Province, where a vessel carrying over 100 passengers and around 240 tons of cargo from South Korea's Incheon Port docked on Friday morning, before later returning in the afternoon with more than 300 passengers and over 300 tons of cargo on board.
It was the first time in four years that the ship has carried passengers for both inbound and outbound travel, marking the official resumption of international passenger shipping services at the Dalian Port and the first resumed international maritime passenger route in the northeastern region of China.
The vessel, the "Biryong", is currently making three round-trips a week between Dalian and Incheon, facilitating the flow of personnel and goods between northeast China and South Korea.
Meanwhile, the number of individuals traveling to and from Russia through the Hunchun highway port in the northeastern Jilin Province has steadily increased since the beginning of this year, and has so far totalled 85,000 trips, a remarkable 375-percent year-on-year increase.
Now the port is gearing up for a surge in tourists during the upcoming May Day holiday, with the Hunchun border inspection station anticipating over 10,000 passengers to pass through during the five-day holiday period alone. In order to better accommodate the expected influx, all inspection lanes have been opened, while other necessary preparations have been made, including offering passenger guidance to ensure smoother travel.
"We open at 07:00 in the morning, and the first bus usually arrives at around 08:00. From 08:00 in the morning, buses continuously arrive throughout the day. Currently, we handle approximately 1,500 passenger crossings per day. During the May Day holiday, we expect a small peak in the number of inbound and outbound passengers, with an estimated daily total of around 2,500," said Shi Xinming, deputy director of the second inspection team of the Hunchun border inspection station.
Chinese ports see tourism surge ahead of May Day holiday
Chinese President Xi Jinping held a restrictive meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday at Zhongnanhai in Beijing, during which they had in-depth exchanges on strategic issues of common concern.
The world is undergoing changes unseen in a century and entering a new period of turbulence and transformation, Xi noted, adding that in the face of the ever-evolving world landscape with volatility and turmoil, China has maintained its strategic resolve.
He said that under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese people have overcome various difficulties and challenges, and are striving to promote high-quality development and Chinese modernization.
China is willing to work with Russia and other countries to enhance solidarity and cooperation, steer global governance in the right direction, jointly safeguard international fairness and justice, and promote world peace and common development, Xi said.
Noting that China's development is unstoppable and that no force can contain China's growth and progress, Putin said that Russia is willing to improve cooperation with China and other Global South countries to promote international fairness and justice, and to work toward a more equal and multipolar world.
The two heads of state had an in-depth exchange of views on the Ukraine crisis.
Xi elaborated on China's consistent position and efforts to promote the political settlement of the Ukraine issue, stressing that to deal with any major issue, it is necessary to address both the symptoms and the root causes, and to plan for the present as well as for the long term.
He said the core of the Global Security Initiative is advocating the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, and the fundamental solution to the Ukraine issue is to promote the establishment of a new balanced, effective and sustainable security architecture.
Xi said China supports the convening of an international peace conference recognized by Russia and Ukraine at an appropriate time with equal participation and fair discussion of all options, so as to push for an early political settlement of the Ukraine issue, and China stands ready to continue to play a constructive role in this regard.
Putin introduced the relevant views and positions of Russia, saying that Russia appreciates China's objective, just and balanced position on the Ukraine issue and welcomes China to continue to play an important and constructive role in the political settlement of the issue. Russia is committed to resolving the Ukraine issue through political negotiations and is willing to demonstrate sincerity and maintain close communication with China in this regard, he said.
Xi said that over the years, they have had many meetings and every exchange has been candid, in-depth and fruitful.
Xi said he is ready to stay in close contact with President Putin and work together to steer the development of China-Russia relations in the right direction, guide the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era to achieve steady and lasting progress, bring more benefits to the two peoples, and contribute to world security and stability.
Putin thanked Xi for his warm hospitality, saying that he is willing to maintain close communication with Xi, implement the important consensus reached between them, and ensure the full development of the Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era.
Xi holds restrictive meeting with Putin at Zhongnanhai
Xi holds restrictive meeting with Putin at Zhongnanhai
Xi holds restrictive meeting with Putin at Zhongnanhai
