Central China's Zhengzhou is seeing a growing number of foreign tourists move beyond conventional sightseeing to explore its historic neighborhoods, experience local culture and engage with everyday life.
The trend is giving fresh momentum to inbound tourism as expanded visa-free policies and improved international connectivity make "travel to China" increasingly convenient.
At the Oil Chemical Factory Creative Park in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, vintage trains, old tractors and factory-turned shops fuse industrial heritage with traditional culture and modern design, drawing visitors from around the world.
Once known for soap production, the former oil chemical factory now offers visitors hands-on soap-making experiences featuring Henan flavors such as spicy pepper soup and herba schizonepeta. The activity has become a popular attraction.
Foreign tourists make soaps inspired by local flavors while learning traditional soap-making techniques, experiencing firsthand how the old industrial site has been revitalized.
"It's really beautiful. Actually, I've tried this in the university before. I like, want to wear Chinese outfit and get the Chinese makeup," said a tourist named Aicha Idel from Morocco.
While exploring the creative block, foreign visitors also sampled local specialties.
"It's refreshing and minty," said Olivia Forsdyke from the UK when trying a local dish.
"It just got so much flavor compared to normal vegetables that I'd like to eat. And it's like, it's very tasty," said Maximus Forsdyke, Olivia's brother. Although the siblings live in Britain, they frequently return to China to visit relatives and travel, as their mother is Chinese.
The expansion of visa-free entry policies and the increase in international flights have made it easier for the Forsdyke family to travel to China, while also encouraging more of their British friends to visit.
"We come to China every year," said Maximus Forsdyke.
"When my friends learned that China is now visa-free, they couldn't wait. They thought 'wow, it turns out that going to China is so convenient, since you can just buy a plane ticket and come over.' And there are direct flights between Zhengzhou and London, so you can just take a nap on the plane and here you are, arrived in China. That's why many of my friends from abroad also want to travel to China," said the sibling's mom Wang Shanshan.
Zhengzhou's industrial heritage draws foreign tourists seeking immersive China experiences
