China's financial hub Shanghai has introduced a series of user-friendly measures aimed at helping foreign visitors with entry, living arrangements, and payment procedures.
The number of foreigners visiting Shanghai has been rising steadily since China implemented a 144-hour visa-free transit policy. The city recorded 12.18 million inbound visits in the first nine months this year, up 107 percent year on year.
Three one-stop service centers for foreign visitors have been operational at Shanghai's Pudong and Hongqiao airports. Offering round-the-clock assistance, these service centers are located at the international flight arrival exits, ensuring that foreign passengers can easily see the centers immediately after completing immigration procedures.
"We are tourists here, so we are buying sim cards for seven days. It was very good, they were very helpful, and it was really fast," said a Portuguese tourist.
Shanghai has also actively promoted various payment options, including mobile payment, bank cards and cash. At present, a total of 70,000 terminals across the city have supported foreign card payments, covering eight major consumption scenarios including dining, accommodation, transportation, travel and shopping.
The city's major business districts are also expanding the acceptance of domestic payment methods for inbound tourists and enhancing the functionality for foreign card transactions.
Shanghai enhances service for surging number of foreign visitors
A delegation of 40 students and teachers from seven Chinese mainland universities on Thursday wrapped up their nine-day visit to Taiwan. They set off for Taiwan on Nov. 27 and visited universities, historical sites, scenic spots, as well as sports, sci-tech and cultural venues on the island, widely engaging with locals throughout the tour.
The delegation made the tour at the invitation of the Taiwan-based Ma Ying-jeou Culture and Education Foundation.
"The young people from both sides of the Strait share the same root, and we are having a harmonious communication this time. We also welcome young people from Taiwan to visit the mainland for exchange," Cao Yibo, a student from Peking University, told reporters during the tour.
The delegation included table tennis Olympic champion Ma Long who studies at Beijing Sport University, and air rifle Olympic champion Yang Qian of Tsinghua University.
"In the future, I would like to visit Taiwan again. I did not expect that so many compatriots in Taiwan would come to welcome and us and pay so much attention to our exchange tour," Ma said.
Hsiao Hsu-tsen, executive director of the Ma Ying-jeou Culture and Education Foundation, saw off the delegation at the airport on Thursday, and said the mainland students and teachers had received Taiwan residents' heartfelt welcome wherever they went.
"The farewell dinner party was held yesterday evening, when almost all students from the mainland shared their feelings. What moved me so much is that every one of them thanked people here, because the latter sincerely and warmly welcomed them wherever they went during the nine-day tour. They told me that when they go back, they will tell their relatives and friends that people in Taiwan are kind, hospitable and warm. I believe that is the most important purpose of the exchange across the Strait," he said.
Calling youth exchanges a foundation of cross-Strait relations in the future, Hsiao said the foundation will carry on and continue to promote such exchanges across the Strait.
This is the second delegation of mainland teachers and students visiting Taiwan at the invitation of the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation, following the visit by a first delegation in July last year.
Delegation of mainland university students, teachers wraps up Taiwan visit
