Chongqing Municipality in southwest China is welcoming a growing number of foreign travelers, as more visitors swap checklist-style tourism for a mix of cultural activities and authentic local experiences.
Thanks to the visa-free entry policies, Chongqing has witnessed an increasing number of foreign tourists visiting the city. According to the official data, some 210,000 foreign tourists entered China via Chongqing under visa-free entry policies in the first half of the year, marking an increase of 83.6 percent year on year.
Rather than focusing solely on traditional landmarks, an increasing number of international travelers are seeking diverse cultural experiences for a deeper understanding of the city.
Many have been drawn to Sichuan Opera, where they are particularly impressed by the dazzling face-changing technique. Some have even put on costumes to try the performance themselves.
"It was amazing. I've only seen pictures; I've never seen any video or anything. And just how unique it is to me -- it's very new, and it was like such a spectacle. It was really a great show," said a visitor from Norway.
Foreign travelers are also showing strong interest in local lifestyles. Many choose to visit the Shibati (Eighteen Stairs) traditional district, where they can immerse themselves in traditional culture and sample local delicacies.
Foreign travelers explore diverse cultural experiences in Chongqing
The Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, a newly formed defense pact among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, represents a deterrence strategy rather than an actual threat to Iran, according to Hossein Kanani Moghaddam, a former commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The three nations on Friday signed the joint defense agreement in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, to deepen cooperation among the three regional powers amid rising regional security concerns, according to Pakistan's Foreign Ministry.
The agreement aims to strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression, under which an armed attack against any one of the three states shall be regarded as an attack against all, the ministry said in a statement.
However, its signing amid the backdrop of the Middle East conflict has prompted questions as to whether the parties would actually uphold their obligations in the event of a real attack.
"Treaties like these are more about deterrence than operational use. That is, if we were to attack the U.S. base in Saudi Arabia tomorrow, Pakistan wouldn't react. Even Türkiye, because they know that if they respond they'd be drawn into a war against Iran, is mostly engaging in propaganda. And in my view, it has no effect in terms of threatening Iran," said Kanani Moghaddam, who now works as a military analyst.
"We want to attack the U.S. base; we're not attacking Saudi Arabia. This base is in Saudi Arabia, and in any case Saudi Arabia understands that we're not seeking war with them. It seems that this pact that has been forged will have no effect on the war between Iran, the United States, and the Zionist regime; it is viewed more as a deterrent measure," he said.
Former IRGC commander plays down threat from Pakistan-Saudi-Türkiye defense pact
