Beijing has seen a boom of inbound tourism in the current summer holiday season, as the city has rolled out tour packages highlighting local culture and history for foreign travelers.
China continues to implement its relaxed visa policy, significantly boosting inbound travel. In the first half of 2025, Beijing, a major port of entry in China, handled over 2.9 million entries and exits of foreigners, representing 29 percent of the total number of cross-border travels, up 36.5 percent year on year.
From July 1 to 10, the ports in Beijing handled over 640,000 entries and exits of travelers, including 171,000 by foreigners, up 22.1 percent year on year.
The Beijing General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection has introduced new applications, and designated specific areas and channels to improve its work efficiency.
"The Beijing General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection has developed eight applications that offer services such as automated online collection of travelers' information and prediction of flight and passenger flows. As a result, the customs clearance efficiency for foreign travelers has increased by 30 percent. We've also set up specific areas for the issuance of temporary entry permits, and added 11 channels [for temporary entries]. The efficiency of issuing temporary entry permits has increased by 60 percent," said Yin Li, an officer with the general station.
At present, China's unilateral visa-free policy has applied to 47 other countries, while its 240-hour visa-free transit policy has applied to 55 other countries.
As the summer holiday season unfolds, Beijing has seen a surge in study tours and family tours by travelers from overseas.
Leveraging the city's rich historical and cultural resources, the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism has designated 10 routes for study tours, featuring themes such as opera, intangible cultural heritage, geology and archaeology, and natural discovery.
It has also opened six other tour routes for inbound travelers, highlighting history and culture, nature and ecology, science and technology, theme parks, cultural heritage and craftsmanship, and Olympic heritage.
"I really like the trip. I went to the south of China. We saw a lot of monuments, cultural monuments and nature. Chinese nature is really beautiful," said a French tourist.
"Beautiful roads, new cars, everything [is] good and very [silent]. Electric cars are nice," said a German tourist.
Beijing embraces summer tourism boom with new cultural tour packages
Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Saturday China is willing to work with Lesotho to strengthen exchanges on governance experience, enhance coordination in multilateral affairs, and advance the China-Lesotho strategic partnership.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting with Lesotho Prime Minister Sam Matekane in the capital of Lesotho.
During the meeting, Wang congratulated Lesotho on the 60th anniversary of its independence this year, and spoke highly of Lesotho government's efforts to prioritize economic development and steer the African country onto a path of sustainable growth. Since the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2024, the two sides have advanced cooperation under the 10 partnership action plans unveiled at the summit, successfully implementing a number of key projects to effectively promote Lesotho's development and revitalization, Wang said.
China stands ready to work with Lesotho to strengthen exchanges on governance experience, enhance coordination in multilateral affairs, and push for greater development of the China-Lesotho strategic partnership, he added.
Calling on the two sides to firmly support each other, Wang said that China will accelerate the implementation of its zero-tariff policy for African countries, including Lesotho, expand bilateral trade, investment and industrial cooperation, facilitate broader access of Lesotho's specialty products to the Chinese market, and continue to support Lesotho's national development.
China will continue to stand firmly with African countries, uphold justice for the Global South, including Lesotho, oppose unilateralism and acts of bullying, and work together to build a community with a shared future for humanity, Wang said.
On his part, Matekane said during the meeting that Lesotho cherishes its friendship with China and the strategic partnership between the two countries, and expressed gratitude for China's valuable support for the development of African countries, including Lesotho.
Lesotho firmly adheres to the one-China principle and resolutely supports China in safeguarding its core interests, he said, noting that his country stands ready to strengthen strategic mutual trust with China, expand people-to-people exchanges, jointly implement the outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit, and deepen cooperation in areas such as infrastructure, manufacturing and energy.
Matekane stressed that China's zero-tariff policy for African products will inject new impetus into Lesotho's development. He also expressed Lesotho's willingness to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with China on multilateral platforms such as BRICS to jointly address global challenges.
On the same day, Wang also held talks with Lejone Mpotjoana, minister of foreign affairs and international relations of Lesotho.
China, Lesotho to strengthen exchanges, advance cooperation
China, Lesotho to strengthen exchanges, advance cooperation
