Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport has seen a surge in international passenger traffic as the Spring Festival holiday approaches, with foreign arrivals more than doubling year on year, according to local immigration authorities.
The Spring Festival, or Chinese New Year, falls on Feb. 17 this year. The official holiday runs for nine days from Feb. 15 to 23, while the broader Spring Festival travel rush lasts from Feb. 2 to March 13.
During the ongoing travel rush, the Chongqing port has processed over 112,000 inbound and outbound passengers and more than 800 flights, marking a nearly 50 percent increase compared with the same period last year.
Foreign nationals accounted for more than 20,000 entries and exits, more than doubled.
Projections indicate that during the peak holiday period from Feb. 15 to 23, the airport is expected to handle approximately 80,000 inbound and outbound passengers, averaging over 8,500 daily, with a single-day peak forecast to exceed 10,000 movements.
International travelers drawn to Chongqing cited the city's vibrant atmosphere and festive charm as key attractions.
"I came to China to celebrate the New Year's holiday and then I will stay here to study. I hope I will have a good time here," said Linda Cirri, an international student from Italy.
"What we love about Chongqing is the vibrant vibe of the city, the lights everywhere, and it's called the Cyber Punk City. And there are huge buildings everywhere. So we love it. And it's really beautiful," said Irem Bayer, a visitor form France.
"I celebrated Chinese New Year in China two years ago and found the experience to be very positive. The streets were abundant with goods, and the atmosphere was notably more vibrant, lively, and joyful," said Andrea Colosio, a visitor from Italy.
The surge reflects growing international interest in experiencing China's most important traditional festival firsthand, as well as Chongqing's rising appeal as a global tourist destination.
China's Chongqing embraces surge in int'l arrivals for Spring Festival holiday
An exchange event bringing together young baseball players from China and the United States is underway in Fuzhou, the capital of east China's Fujian province, providing a platform for these young people to build friendships and enhance mutual understanding through sports and cultural exchanges.
The event, "Bond with Kuliang: 2026 China-U.S. Youth Baseball Exhibition Games and Sports Festival," runs from Monday to Thursday.
As part of the event, exhibition games featuring four U.S. youth teams and four Chinese teams were held on Tuesday at Fuzhou's Pingtan Baseball Park.
In an exciting game, China's Fujian Provincial Baseball Team took on the U.S. Northeastern State University RiverHawks. Hits, diving catches, and every brilliant play ignited the crowd, creating an electric atmosphere.
"It's honestly once in a lifetime opportunity and experience, because it's a great way to get along, have fun and just build friendships together," said Hill from the U.S. Northeastern State University RiverHawks.
But it wasn't just about the competition. A touching moment unfolded when an American player injured his finger during a game. A Chinese player noticed right away and quickly called for a medic.
"Injuries are hard to avoid in baseball. They can happen suddenly. There was no team doctor in the opposing team's dugout, so I called out to our side to see if they had any plasters, and asked our medic to help treat him," said Lu Yun from the Fujian Provincial Baseball Team.
"One of their players was nice enough to give me a bandage. The only ones I know in Mandarin are thank you (Xiexie), so that's what I said. It's cool how baseball can connect even if you don't speak the same language; you can play baseball together," U.S. player Osborne expressed his gratitude.
Beyond the baseball matches, the young athletes also visited Minjiang University in Fuzhou City as part of the event, where they played basketball and learned Chinese martial arts together. During the campus visit, they also explored a university lab to learn about innovative research and achievements.
Baseball events in Fuzhou build friendship between China, US youth
