The "one-stop lanes" on the Hengqin Port in south China's Guangdong Province neighboring Macao saw a surge in cross-border vehicle traffic from January to July, with the number of vehicle crossings through the lanes reaching 2,606,000 in the first seven months of the year, up about 40 percent year on year.
The Guangdong-Macao Joint One-Stop Lanes are a passenger and freight vehicle inspection channel located at the Hengqin Port, which was officially put into operation on March 18, 2024. This transportation channel adopts a joint one-stop inspection system featuring a "cooperative inspection and one-time release" customs clearance model.
According to the latest customs data, over 1.73 million of the vehicle crossings were made by Macao vehicles with a single Macao license plate, accounting for 66 percent of the total.
Hengqin, located in Zhuhai City of south China's Guangdong Province, is separated from Macao Special Administrative Region by a narrow stretch of water. The Hengqin Port is the only land port connecting Hengqin and Macao. The Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin was established in 2021 to facilitate Macao's better integration into the overall national development.
Mainland port neighboring Macao sees surge in cross-border vehicle traffic
The rise of the "China Travel" online trend reflects a surge in international interest in China, respondents overwhelmingly said in a global online survey conducted by China Global Television Network (CGTN).
A total of 92.9 percent of respondents agreed with the statement, reflecting how the online trend has been winning over fans around the world this summer through summer escapes, experience-based tours, shopping trips, and cultural journeys.
From breathtaking natural landscapes and iconic landmarks to trendy tea drinks and traditional clothing such as hanfu and qipao, foreign visitors are constantly adding new experiences to their "China Travel" wish lists.
When asked "Which type of travel experience in China interests you the most?", 54.7 percent of the respondents expressed interest in historical and cultural landmarks such as the Great Wall and the Forbidden City. Natural scenery, unique cultural experiences, and modern urban life in China ranked second through fourth respectively.
On their interest in Chinese cuisine, 55.5 percent of respondents said they were most interested in traditional Chinese dishes, while internet-famous specialty foods, modern tea beverages and specialty drinks, and regional delicacies ranked second through fourth.
Asked which products they would most like to buy if they traveled to China, 48.3 percent of respondents showed the strongest preference for tech products and smart devices. Over 23 percent of respondents chose Chinese cultural and creative products, 18.7 percent chose specialty foods and snacks, and 9.6 percent chose trendy fashion apparel and traditional Chinese clothing.
According to the National Immigration Administration, China recorded 22.9 million inbound trips by foreign nationals in the first half of this year, up 20.4 percent year on year, maintaining strong growth momentum.
Notably, 17.8 million inbound trips by foreign nationals were made under China's visa-free policies in the first half of this year, up 30.6 percent year on year. A series of measures aimed at facilitating inbound travel are attracting a growing number of foreign visitors to China.
In the survey, 92.8 percent of respondents said that content related to traveling in China on social media is continuously increasing their interest in learning about China and visiting the country; 87 percent of respondents believed that traveling to China in person helps them gain a more comprehensive and authentic understanding of Chinese culture, society, and the current state of its development.
According to the survey, 92.2 percent of respondents believe that convenient services such as mobile payments, high-speed rail, and shared mobility are becoming important components of the travel experience in China. Over 90 percent of respondents believe China's continued efforts to optimize its visa policies and streamline entry procedures have effectively boosted overseas travelers' willingness to visit the country, and 79.6 percent of respondents hope to learn about Chinese travel information, discover more popular attractions, and explore travel experiences through locally developed mobile applications in China.
The survey was released on CGTN's English, Spanish, French, Arabic and Russian platforms, with 7,085 netizens voting and expressing their opinions within 24 hours.
Over 90 pct of respondents see surging worldwide interest in China travel, culture: CGTN Poll
