Ningbo, a port city in east China's Zhejiang Province, has held colorful cultural events for international sailors who arrive visa-free, allowing them to immerse themselves in Chinese lifestyle and cultural heritage.
China has relaxed visa-free transit to attract more overseas tourists since last year. The permitted stay for eligible foreign travelers was extended from 72 and 144 hours to 240 or 10 days in December last year. Eligible citizens from 54 countries, including Russia, Brazil, Britain, the United States, and Canada, can now enter China visa-free when transiting to a third country or region under the updated policy.
On Wednesday, four seamen were invited to experience lion dance, a Chinese traditional art form that combines martial arts and lion-costumed rhythmic dance.
Their host, Shen Haidi, is an inheritor of the "Meishan Lion Dance," one of Ningbo's municipal intangible cultural heritage. He performed and coached them to try the dance in his courtyard.
"I felt very good, because for me, it's a good pleasure to meet the new culture and [develop] a deeper understanding of Chinese culture," said Robert, a sailor.
Ningbo receives about 270,000 stopovers every year from international sailors who come on cargo ships.
Local authorities have helped facilitate travel for seamen, including streamlining entry procedures, improving transportation networks, offering more information services, and introducing financial services, so as to enable the international guests to learn more about China.
China's port city Ningbo holds cultural events for visa-free sailors
