Hekou Port, the largest land port along the Yunnan section of the China-Vietnam border, saw a surge in cross-border traffic on Thursday, New Year's Day.
Vietnamese tour groups started to line up at the Hekou Port Joint Inspection Hall to enter China before the checkpoint opened.
Border authorities rolled out an online pre-declaration system, allowing travelers who applied online in advance to bypass regular queues and receive fast-track clearance on arrival.
According to an officer from the station, border authorities are continuously monitoring changes in passenger volume, while deploying additional self-service printers and real-time translation facilities to ensure efficient and smooth customs clearance.
"Today, I brought a group of 45 people to Kunming for a trip. In Vietnam, snow is rare. Since it's New Year's Day, we have a four-day holiday. They are eager to see snow and excited to visit Kunming," said Nong Thuy Duong, a Vietnamese tour guide.
The sharp increase in inbound tourism has also bolstered local consumer market in Hekou. Restaurants, shopping malls, and scenic spots in the urban area have welcomed an endless stream of Vietnamese tourists.
"I can find delicious food everywhere. I think the surroundings and scenery are beautiful, really picturesque," said a Vietnamese tourist.
Yunnan, known for its picturesque landscapes, has become a popular destination for tourists from Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, and other countries.
On New Year's Day alone, a total of 263 Vietnamese tour groups entered through Hekou Port, comprising 4,377 travelers -- an increase of 415 percent and 535 percent year on year, respectively. Furthermore, the number of travelers entering and exiting through Hekou Port is estimated to exceed 70,000 during China's News Year holiday, which lasts from Thursday to Saturday.
Southwest China land port sees surge in Vietnamese tourists on New Year's Day
Ice and snow activities have attracted more visitors across China during the three-day New Year holiday that began on Thursday, with destinations upgrading services and introducing new experiences to boost winter tourism and consumption.
At the Jizhou International Ski Resort in north China's Tianjin, visitor numbers have surged during the holiday. To accommodate demand, the resort has opened 11 ski runs, added new snow-making equipment, upgraded more than 5,000 sets of ski gear, and deployed over 200 professional instructors.
To meet visitors' needs, the resort also has offered two free public classes each day to help beginners master basic skills and safety knowledge. Shuttle bus services have been expanded between nearby hotels and the resort, providing seamless transportation for guests.
"There are shuttle buses from the hotel to the ski resort every 20 minutes, wich I think is a very good service," said Ma Xinping, a tourist.
Hotels in the surrounding area have also benefited from the rising popularity of ice-and-snow tourism.
"Hotel rooms were nearly fully booked during the holiday, and this year's revenue is expected to increase by more than 50 percent compared with previous years," said Zong Qinghe, general manager of the Tianjin Jizhou International Ski Resort.
Meanwhile, Huangshan City in east China's Anhui Province is also tapping into its winter tourism potential by rolling out new ice-and-snow-themed attractions.
At an ice-and-snow entertainment venue in the city's Changyuan Village, snowmaking machines have been operating continuously, creating a winter wonderland where children have been building snowmen, having snowball fights and enjoying snow slides amid laughter and excitement.
"I built a snowman and had a snowball fight here. I'm really happy," said Chen Xiaohan, a tourist.
According to Wang Fei, head of the venue, the whole place is divided into three main zones, including a photo-taking area, a snow-play area and a slide zone. She added that the attraction received nearly 30,000 visits in the first two days of the New Year holiday.
China's ice and snow tourism gains momentum during New Year holiday
