'Avatar' landscapes fuel surge in overseas arrivals at China's Zhangjiajie park

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in central China’s Hunan Province, famed as the real-world inspiration for the blockbuster film "Avatar," is seeing a surge in overseas arrivals as travelers cite both its scenery and the ease of touring China.

The park’s towering sandstone pillars, shaped over hundreds of millions of years by tectonic uplift, wind and water, resemble scenes from a fantasy film. Recognized as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in 1992, the national forest park rose to global prominence after "Avatar" showcased its surreal landscapes.

Officials said the park is leveraging its cinematic reputation to attract more overseas visitors, with inbound tourism showing strong momentum.

"Leveraging the influence of the Avatar film franchise, Zhangjiajie sees steady growth in overseas tourist arrivals. As of May 1 this year, the park has received 450,000 overseas tourists, up 33 percent year on year, with visitors coming from 170 countries and regions worldwide," said Gong Yang, director of the Zhangjiajie Forestry Administration.

Amid the echoes of many languages in the park, some tourists reflected on the dramatic changes they had witnessed in China since their last visit.

"We like the people [here], the Chinese people. They are very hard-working. It's very different from [what] I saw 15 years ago. That is the difference now. It's very nice. Roads, people, everything is good," said a Russian tourist.

Others highlighted the sense of safety and convenience during their journey.

"It's very safe. It's very organized, disciplined people and everything is systematic and very convenient to the tourists," said two Filipino tourists.

"I can leave my luggage here and go and back and I will find it here. It's very safe. Nobody trying to trick you, to charge you more, let's say, to cheat you or something. Everything is clear, [including] the price," said a Saudi Arabia tourist.

Bringing cinematic fantasy to life, Zhangjiajie captivates visitors with its breathtaking landscapes while offering the peace of mind that comes with safe and seamless travel.

'Avatar' landscapes fuel surge in overseas arrivals at China's Zhangjiajie park

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday the European Union is "prepared for every scenario" if the United States unilaterally raises tariffs on cars and trucks imported from the bloc.

Speaking in Yerevan, Armenia, on the sidelines of the EU-Armenia Summit, von der Leyen pushed back against U.S. President Donald Trump's latest tariff threat. She stressed that "a deal is a deal," warning against unilateral changes to the agreement.

Trump on Friday threatened to increase tariffs on cars and trucks imported from the EU to 25 percent next week, accusing the bloc of failing to comply with the trade deal between the two sides.

"It is fully understood and agreed that, if they produce Cars and Trucks in U.S.A. Plants, there will be NO TARIFF," he said on Truth Social.

A European Commission spokesperson said Friday that the EU will "keep options open" to protect its interests if the United States takes measures inconsistent with the joint statement between the two sides signed last year on reciprocal, fair and balanced trade.

"The EU is implementing its Joint Statement commitments in line with standard legislative practice, keeping the U.S. administration fully informed throughout," the spokesperson said.

A EU-U.S. trade deal was reached last year, under which the EU would suspend tariffs on all U.S. industrial products and introduce tariff-rate quotas for a wide range of U.S. agri-food products entering the EU market. In return, the United States would apply a 15-percent import tariff on most EU goods.

EU responds to Trump's tariff threats: "prepared for every scenario"