Ordos City in northern China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region has become a hotspot for inbound tourists this summer, particularly from South Korea. Visitors are attracted by tailored experiences, visa-free travel, and direct charter flights.
A chartered flight from Daegu, South Korea, to Ordos brought South Korean tourists eager for an exciting journey to landscapes not found in their home country.
At the Yinkentala Scenic Area in Ordos, 82 space capsule-style hotels are tucked away within the heart of the desert. This extraordinary destination offers a wide array of experiences, breathtaking panoramic views of sunrise and sunset from within, and the chance to explore untouched desert terrain on camel back.
“We glided through the grasslands, it was exhilarating. It's hard to experience this in South Korea; it's truly a unique activity in Ordos. The rolling sandy roads (while riding a desert motorbike) were truly thrilling,” said one of the tourists.
“They say riding a camel in the desert is something they could only see on TV or in dreams,” said Huang Long, tour guide with the Korean tour group.
Data from the scenic spot shows that, during the peak tour season from June to September 2024, the space capsules attracted more than 10,000 South Korean tourists. Driven by the growing demand this year, the scenic spot is stepping up the construction of another 120 new units.
“With the opening of the direct charter flight, South Korean tourists started arriving from June 11. Till the end of the flight on Sept 15, we are expecting to receive 15,000 arrivals,” said Xu Jie, manager of the space capsule project.
Staying overnight in a yurt on the Ordos grasslands is another popular choice for the tourists. As night falls, tourists sip fragrant milk tea while taking in the panoramic views of the vast grassland and the sky.
To facilitate inbound tourists, signs and commentary in Korean language have been added to restaurants and performances in the grassland tourist area.
“Cultural experience is a very important part for the foreign tourists. Taking the tourists from South Korea as an example, they are very yearning for grasslands and deserts. Ordos City happens to have both of these resources, which is a very good advantage for us,” said Li Yanhong, general manager of the Ordos Grassland tourist area.
Since the charter season started in June 2025, Ordos City has received more than 80 inbound charter flights carrying more than 12,100 tourists from South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand and other countries.
Ordos City sees tourism boom with unique desert experiences, tailored services
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
