China's expanding visa-free travel has ignited a surge of international arrivals, with overseas visitors flocking to its diverse destinations for richer, more immersive holiday experiences.
As the world welcomed 2026, more international travelers in China explored a wider variety of places and embraced deeper cultural encounters during the New Year holiday.
From Jan. 1 to Jan. 7, Sanya City and Haikou City in south China's Hainan Province saw a 28 percent and 15 percent increase in inbound tourists, respectively, attracting a significant number of visitors from countries such as South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Australia.
Hainan's offshore duty-free shopping amounted to 1.21 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 88 percent, with nearly 150,000 shoppers, which represents a year-on-year growth of 38.3 percnent.
Influenced by factors such as the 2026 New Year holiday and the 42nd Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival, the number of inbound tourists during the first week of the new year saw an increase of over 70 percent compared to the previous year in Harbin City of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. Foreign travelers can be seen at various attractions throughout the city.
"Our country does not have such scenery. Very surprising," said a tourist from Indonesia.
The growing diversity of both destinations and sources of foreign travelers is a long-term result of China's favorable visa policies.
Right now, China offers visa-free entry to citizens of 76 countries. Plus, travelers from 55 countries can take advantage of a 240-hour visa-free transit policy at 65 different entry points.
China's visa-free travel drives holiday tourism surge across China
A major port in northern Venezuela came under U.S. airstrikes in the early hours of January 3, which caused extensive damage to civilian infrastructure, destroyed critical medical supplies in a warehouse, and severely impacted centuries-old cultural heritage sites, according to local residents.
The La Guaira Port, a vital hub for imports that support daily life in the region, was heavily damaged during the attack.
Large quantities of medical supplies stored at the port were destroyed. A historic cultural building dating back for some 300 years was also badly damaged by the bombardment.
Residents living near the port recalled the terrifying scenes as explosions shook nearby neighborhoods.
Humberto Bolivar, who lives in a community separated from the port by only a main road, said the blast waves shattered his home's windows, while stray shrapnel struck the water tank on his roof. According to reports, three missiles were fired at the port that night.
Bolivar said that beyond material losses, he is most concerned about the psychological impact on his children, who remain too frightened to leave their home days after the attack.
"The United States invaded our country. The children were frightened. This is not good for them, because it leaves some children with psychological trauma. They do not want to go to school or leave the house, because they are afraid that something worse might happen. We truly do not want this to happen to our country," he said.
Apart from civilian facilities, local cultural heritage site was also affected.
The La Guaira state government building, a structure with nearly 300 years of history and once served as the site of Venezuela's first national customs office, was struck by the force of the explosions.
Windows of the building were shattered, and furniture scattered across the floor.
"As people of La Guaira, we feel deep pain. Our cultural heritage has been bombed. We are living in constant anxiety and suffering, and life can no longer be the same as it was before," said a local named Henry Cumares.
The U.S. side has claimed the airstrikes targeted warehouses allegedly used to store narcotics. However, locals refuted such accusation.
"According to what Donald Trump said, they bombed this place using the excuse that the warehouses here were used to store drugs at the port. But based on the video released by our governor, these warehouses that were burned contained medicine for kidney patients and foods. Many people depend on these supplies to survive. I think the bombing is extremely despicable," said a local resident named Alejandro Capriles.
US strike hits Venezuelan port, wrecking medical supplies, heritage building
