China's visa-free policy for Greek citizens has sparked a surge in travel, with local travel agencies and airlines quickly reaping the benefits.
Starting on Oct 15 and lasting until Dec 31, 2025, Greek citizens with ordinary passports can visit China for up to 15 days without a visa for tourism, business, family reunification, or transit.
Maria Kavadia, marketing and PR manager at Cosmorama Travel, a local travel agency, has witnessed the direct impact of China's visa-free policy.
Her company, which has long offered various tour packages to China, recently sent a delegation to Beijing, Shanghai, and Hangzhou City in east China, alongside representatives from six other Greek travel agencies, to explore new opportunities.
"We had the possibility in October to be the first travelers from Greece to travel to China visa-free and it was an exciting experience for us because I've been many many times in China and this was the first time that I didn't have to wait [in] queues. Everything is very easy, like a domestic flight almost. Right now with the direct flights, we have the visa-free, we can also have a weekly program, so we are working on that as well," said Kavadia.
The recent extension of the visa-free stay from 15 to 30 days, effective from Nov 30, further boosts China's appeal for Greek travelers.
"Next year, we are hoping that we have more availability on the air flight which is an issue for us," Kavadia added.
In addition to the visa exemption, Greek travelers also enjoy direct flight options between the two countries.
Currently, two Chinese airlines operate direct flights from Athens to Beijing and Shanghai. Since the introduction of the visa-free policy, the number of Greek visitors to China has surged.
"Since the introduction of the visa-free policy on Oct 15, we've seen noticeable improvements. Our flight occupancy rate, which was 60 percent in September, increased to 85 percent in October and reached 90 percent or higher after the policy took effect on Oct 15," said Ji Hao, a staff member at a Chinese airline.
China's visa-free policy boosts travel from Greece
China's Qingming Festival holiday has turned flower viewing into a showcase of cultural heritage, drawing tourists and boosting local economies.
From references to "The Book of Songs", a treasured Confucian classic and China's oldest poetry collection, to longstanding flower festivals, organizers are promoting flower viewing as cultural tourism, weaving poetry and tradition into spring outings.
Hebi City in central China's Henan Province is drawing crowds with magnolias, tulips and crabapples, alongside 87 cherry blossom varieties. The blooms have become a major Qingming Festival attraction, prompting local authorities to pair tourism with cultural heritage.
As one of the birthplaces of The Book of Songs, Hebi has launched a campaign offering free entry to scenic spots for visitors who recite verses from the ancient classic. The initiative links flower viewing with a text long regarded as a cornerstone of Chinese literature.
In Binzhou, east China's Shandong Province, a park spanning 240 hectares, roughly the size of 330 football fields, is covered in blossoms, making it one of the largest spring displays in the region. The park uses smart drip irrigation to keep flowers hydrated and extend their peak season.
Originating in the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), the Huazhao (Flower Deities) Festival in Xinzhou District of Wuhan boasts more than 800 years of history. Listed as a provincial intangible cultural heritage in 2011, it remains the largest folk celebration in eastern Hubei, drawing thousands of visitors each spring. A parade featuring 12 flower deities winds through the streets, anchoring the festival as both a cultural showcase and a tourism draw.
"The plum blossom represents noble character, the peach blossom radiant beauty. We hope more people will come to discover the Huazhao Festival," said Qinghuan, a performer portraying the Osmanthus Deity.
Outside the Shanxi Museum in Taiyuan City, apricot trees are in full bloom. Their pale pink petals flutter in the breeze, lining the museum's corridors and echoing the deep history within. Visitors pause to photograph the unique blend of ancient architecture and fleeting spring beauty.
During the Qingming Festival holiday, the Beijing Garden of World's Flowers turned into a "spring palette." A nearly 2,000-square-meter sea of flowers burst into color. Against this floral backdrop, traditional experiences such as archery, tea whisking and movable-type printing drew crowds seeking a holiday filled with blossoms and cultural charm.
The garden features over 40 varieties of alpine and deciduous rhododendrons in shades of purple, pink and white, layered like clouds of silk. Along the flower-lined paths, colorful benches and ribbons create picture-perfect spots. Visitors wander, stop to admire, or raise their phones to capture a moment of spring romance.
"We hope these vibrant, contrasting floral colors bring a little healing and joy to people's lives, a space to relax and find peace amid the spring bloom," said Shi Wenfang, director of the Beijing Garden of World's Flowers. Beyond flower viewing, the garden is hosting its annual Huazhao Festival during the holiday. Now in its fifth year, the event has attracted nearly 300,000 visitors in total. The festivities run through April 6.
Falling on April 5 this year, the Qingming Festival, or Tomb-Sweeping Day, is a traditional Chinese festival for honoring the deceased and paying tributes to ancestors. The three-day holiday from Saturday to Monday also provides a short break for Chinese citizens to enjoy outdoor activities and sightseeing in pleasant springtime temperatures.
Compiled between the Western Zhou Dynasty and the Spring and Autumn Period (1100 B.C. - 476 B.C.), "The Book of Songs" contains at least 305 poems and is recognized as a Confucian classic.
Flower viewing draws holiday crowds across China during Qingming Festival
