Chongqing, a popular travel destination in southwest China, has won high praise from international diplomats after an immersive tour and cultural exchange in late April that left them deeply impressed by the city’s striking natural landscapes and vibrant urban charm.
China has seen a steady rise in international tourism, driven by expanded visa-free policies and broader opening-up measures. From April 25, a group of 23 diplomats from 14 countries embarked on a five-day in-depth tour of Chongqing, centered around the theme of "Discovering the Beauty of China."
In recent years, Chongqing has become an online sensation and one of the nation's most visited cities, blending ancient heritage, stunning skylines, and magnificent natural wonders. According to the local tourism authority, the city welcomed over two million international visitors in 2025, a remarkable 68 percent year-on-year increase.
The momentum has only grown. From January to March 2026, international arrivals surged by 60 percent, hitting an all-time high. Visitors from Southeast Asia, in particular, formed the largest segment of inbound tourists
"What makes Chongqing different is that Chongqing, I think that it's just new to the global [visitors], especially [those] from Thai. I think Chongqing is more [attractive to] Generation Z or millennials, who love the vibe or the environment of the city, the nightlife, the lights and especially the food," said Pattaraanong Na ChiangMai, deputy governor for International Marketing Asia and South Pacific at the Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports.
On April 27, in Pengshui Miao and Tujia Autonomous County, the municipality of Chongqing signed Letters of Intent and Memoranda of Understanding with the Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau to enhance tourism cooperation. The envoys spoke highly of Chongqing's unique charm and pledged to actively promote practical collaboration in areas such as tourism promotion, mutual tourist exchange, and route expansion between their respective countries and Chongqing upon returning home.
Home to over 30 million people, Chongqing is one of the world's most populous cities. Despite its steep terrain, the city, built directly into the mountains, has turned its natural limitations into strengths and developed at an astonishing pace.
"What struck me most was that the Chongqing city has 32 million people. Mongolia has only 3.5 million people. So 33 million people can live in such conditions in peace, in harmony and can develop so fast. That's what is just striking for me. So, I think if you want to develop really, regardless of the number of people, the size of the territory, if you really want to develop, you can develop," said Nyamaa Enkhbold, Ambassador of Mongolia to China.
One highlight of the diplomats' journey was the Wulong Karst National Geological Park, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site famous for its spectacular karst landscapes, magical caves, and three giant natural bridges. It also served as a key filming location for the 2014 sci-fi blockbuster "Transformers: Age of Extinction."
"The three natural bridges [are] so unique. It reminds me of Petra in Jordan, which is also in a mountainous area in the south of Jordan. What's so interesting was that I saw that the international movie 'Transformers' was shot here in these three bridges, which was also shot in Petra. I see quite a good similarity, maybe by coincidence. But I see that, yes, we share a lot of things that we can share together -- experiences that we could also exchange," said Hussam Al Husseini, Ambassador of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to China.
As of early 2026, China has significantly expanded its visa-free policies, with many citizens eligible for up to 30 days of visa-free travel for business, tourism, family/friend visits, or transit purpose. Andrey Tehov, Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria to China, applauded the visa-free policies and said he looks forward to stronger tourism ties between the two countries.
"I hope that more and more tourists will know about Bulgaria, and I hope that many, many tourists from Bulgaria will come to China. Your visa-free policy for one month is a very good boost to this tourism exchange. Many Bulgarians have lately come here because of this visa-free policy," he said.
Over the course of five days, the envoys visited a variety of iconic locations in Chongqing, such as the ancient town of Ciqikou in Shapingba District, the Chi You Jiu Li City in Pengshui, the Three Natural Bridges in Wulong, and the Dazu Rock Carvings, where they experienced the city's distinctive local culture firsthand.
The Chongqing visit is part of the "Discover China Cultural Tour," a national-level foreign cultural exchange brand initiated by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in 2021. To date, it has successfully held five sessions, organized tours of 21 provinces and regions across the country, including Chongqing, and attracted more than 500 foreign diplomats from over 100 countries.
Foreign diplomats praise Chongqing's unique charm after five-day cultural tour
