Noul, the 12th typhoon of the year, waned to a severe tropical storm on Sunday after slamming into south China's Guangdong Province early that day, and is tracking northward toward neighboring Hunan Province in central China.
The typhoon landed near the coastal town of Pinghai in Huidong County, Huizhou City, at around 03:50, packing maximum sustained winds of 162 kilometers per hour.
Footage from cameras installed at a power plant in Huidong showed fierce winds and torrential rain lashing the facility as the typhoon came ashore, with heavy rain reducing visibility and shaking surveillance cameras.
The meteorological authorities said Noul had waned to a severe tropical storm by 10:00, with maximum winds of 90 kilometers per hour near its center. It is forecast to move northwest across central Guangdong at 10 to 15 kilometers per hour before entering southern Hunan early Monday, gradually losing strength.
The National Commission for Disaster Prevention, Reduction and Relief on Sunday activated a Level-IV national disaster relief emergency response for Guangdong, dispatching a working group to assess the disaster and assist local authorities with evacuation, relief and basic living support.
The Ministry of Water Resources raised its flood emergency response to Level III for Jiangxi, Hunan and Guangdong, warning of a high risk of mountain floods in 43 counties across the three provinces over the next 24 hours. Flood emergency responses remain in place for provincial-level regions of Fujian, Henan, Hubei and Guangxi.
As weather conditions improved, Guangzhounan Railway Station resumed some train services on Sunday, including routes to Zhuhai, Zhanjiang, Nanning, Chengdu and Chongqing, with railway authorities saying operations will continue to be adjusted based on the typhoon's impact.
In Shanwei, another city in Guangdong affected by the storm, authorities downgraded the typhoon emergency response while activating flood control measures amid forecasts of torrential rain and risks of flooding and geological disasters.
Local authorities also began gradually lifting temporary precautionary measures and restoring normal production and daily life.
Waning Typhoon Noul heads for Hunan
China has extended visa-free entry for French citizens through December this year, driving a rebound in inbound tourism as social media promotion and upgraded infrastructure drive rising demand.
On November 3, 2025, Chinese authorities announced the extension to expand high-level opening up and facilitate exchanges.
Since then, French travel agencies have reported a sharp rise in interest, with group tour demand recovering strongly after years of pandemic-era decline.
"This year, the French outbound travel market to China has seen a significant recovery, with group tour demand growing particularly fast. More and more French companies and organizations are organizing group tours for their employees to China. This not only represents huge market potential but also a core source of quality travelers. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, demand for group tours to China had remained low while independent and individual travel was more popular. Now that group tour market has recovered and been growing, I believe this indicates a bright prospects for tours to China in the French market," said Wang Changqing, head of China Tour, a French travel agency.
Beyond the visa-free policy, online influencers promoting niche destinations, the expansion of China's high-speed rail network, and upgrades in tourism services and infrastructure are also driving the inbound travel. "I think this trend is largely due to the internet, especially influencers. They have been introducing and showcasing China, highlighting lesser-known destinations like Zhangjiajie, Sichuan, Chongqing, Yunnan, and Guizhou, which are places that French travelers are not familiar with. These influencers keep showing the diverse facets and unique landscapes of China, sparking the curiosity of French people who already have a strong interest in the country,"said Wang.
French travelers who have visited China have spoken highly of their experiences, praising the warmth of local people along with the country's diverse natural scenery and rich cultural heritage.
"I think China is now fully equipped to receive French tourists. I really felt this when I sat in small bars and restaurants or chatted with Chinese people of different ages. The Chinese are warm, friendly, and inclusive. They often invite me to try local specialties and have a chat. They also strike up conversations with me, asking why I came to China and what I like about the country. Such sincere and warm exchanges are truly heartwarming," said Chenine Hyacine, head of Regard Voyage, another French travel agency.
Visa‑free policy fuels rebound in French travel to China
