Visa-free entry is fueling a surge of international visitors to Zhengzhou, capital of central China's Henan Province, where tourist attractions are seeing record inbound arrivals this summer.
According to the Zhengzhou Entry-Exit Border Inspection Station, in the first half of the year, the station had handled over 489,000 inbound and outbound passengers. Among them, over 79,000 were foreigners, with nearly 40 percent entering the country using various visa-free policies.
At Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport, travelers entering under visa-free arrangements accounted for more than 60 percent of all inbound arrivals in July.
Tourist attractions across Zhengzhou are bustling with visitors, many of them are international travelers drawn by the region's rich history and cultural heritage.
Among the city's standout destinations is Only Henan Drama Fantasy City, which has become increasingly popular with overseas visitors. The sprawling theater complex features 21 performance spaces, where visitors stroll through distinctive rammed-earth architecture and immerse themselves in live productions and interactive performances that vividly bring the region's history, traditions, and local culture to life.
"Fantastic building, and it is amazing that actually something like this exists. We never saw something like this before. We see a very interesting architecture here inside, and very nice and earth colors. And we're already the fifth time in China as a family," said Gerald Hoppstadter, a visitor from Austria.
"For the first time, I feel that watching plays is also a way to learn about a city, and I'm doing it while traveling," said Lin Shiyu, a visitor from Malaysia.
Visa-free policies spur inbound tourism in Henan
