China has seen continuous upsurge in its cultural tourism market this summer, with a wide range of related activities across the country absorbing growing streams of tourists from both home and abroad.
A total of 423 million railway passenger trips, averaging 13.63 million per day, were handled by the country's railway departments throughout July, up 4 percent from the same month of 2023, data from the China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. showed.
Recently, Youyang Tujia and Miao Autonomous County in southwestern China has seen a steady stream of tourists seeking relief from the summer heat. With its green mountains and clear rivers, the county's Muye Village, sitting at an average elevation of over 1,000 meters and having summer temperatures averaging 27 degrees Celsius, has become a popular destination during the summer travel season.
In east China's Hangzhou, themed light shows in Lvjing Village that illuminate the sky every evening draw many visitors. The dynamic light displays and varied lantern designs make the place a popular photo spot.
The annual Torch Festival is a traditional celebration for the Yi ethnic group in southwest China's Yunnan Province. In cities like Kunming and Chuxiong, this festival has become a grand summer event, with locals and tourists from across the country lighting torches and dancing around bonfires together.
"I'm very excited to be here for the first time at the Torch Festival and to experience its lively atmosphere. I hope I can come here again and see the festival continue to thrive. I also wish for life to keep getting better," said Fu Yingchuan, a tourist from the island province of Hainan.
In addition to domestic tourists, China’s attractions are also drawing many foreign visitors. Recently, Qianmen Street in Beijing, with its diverse selection of traditional Chinese restaurants, has seen more international tourists exploring the local cuisine.
"I love them (fried sauce noodles). Very good. We had them in the store, and we had to wait in line for a very long time, but it was definitely worth it," said a foreign visitor.
""This is [my first time eating Chinese food]. These meat sticks, they are very delicious," said another overseas tourist.
With China's new travel facilitation measures like the 144-hour visa-free transit policy, making it easier for foreigners to visit, Beijing's ports have seen a significant increase in inbound visitors this year. As of July 29, over 10 million people have passed through Beijing's ports, which is 2.5 times the number from the same period last year and has already exceeded last year's total.
From July 30, China's island province of Hainan has implemented a new policy allowing tourist groups from Hong Kong and Macao to visit and stay for up to 144 hours without a visa. In recent years, visa-free foreign tourists have made up more than 80 percent of all arrivals in Hainan.
Cultural tourism markets across China keep surging during summer
