UK tourists enjoy scenic views, local specialties during summer escape to Guilin

A growing number of foreign tourists are choosing to head away from the bustle of China's well-known megacities and journey into its rural heartlands, with many taking the chance to sample tasty local delicacies and enjoy the scenic landscapes of Guilin City in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

With its efficient and visitor-friendly amenities, China is becoming an increasingly popular destination for overseas travelers, while its expanding visa-free entry policies are also drawing more and more people to come and see the country for themselves.

Among those to benefit are visitors from the UK, who can now enjoy a 30-day stay in the country as part of a unilateral visa-free measure introduced by China earlier this year.

British tourist Matt Stanbra is among those taking advantage of the policy, and says he was attracted to come after seeing a number of social media posts amid this booming "China Travel" trend.

"It's actually the easiest time to travel to China right now. The government finally loosened the [visa]restrictions, so Brits can actually travel to China relatively easily. And I've just seen like a big explosion of all these amazing places in China online," he said.

Surrounded by iconic karst peaks, the stunning mountain scenery around Guilin offers the perfect summer escape.

"I really enjoy it. The air is very fresh, it's very clean. I like the city itself, it seems quite livable," said Tom Ross, another tourist from Britain.

With the daytime adventures wrapped up, the tourists have worked up an appetite and are keen to seek out local flavors at a bustling night food market back in the city.

Guangxi's famous tangy-sour rice noodle specialty, is one of the must-eats, and has made a big impression on these UK travelers.

"Honestly, this is such a nice delicacy. I think of that we've had here, it's probably my favorite one yet," said Stanbra.

China has been welcoming steady stream of visitors throughout the summer months. The country already recorded a more than 20-percent rise in international visitor arrivals in the first half of 2026, with visa-free entries accounting for nearly 78 percent of the total, according to the Chinese Ministry of Public Security.

UK tourists enjoy scenic views, local specialties during summer escape to Guilin

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday said he is saddened by reports that over 180 people have died, with many others injured, following Monday's 7.5-magnitude earthquake in western Colombia.

He extended his condolences to the families of the victims in a message conveyed by his deputy spokesman Farhan Haq at a press conference from the UN Headquarters in New York.

"He expresses his solidarity with the people and government of Colombia, and extends his condolences to the families of the victims and wishes for a speedy recovery to all those affected, as reports emerge of collapsed homes and other significant damage and as the authorities work to assess the full impact. The United Nations is in close contact with the Colombian authorities and is supporting the government-led response as requested," said Haq.

Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, expressed his sincere sympathies to Colombia's quake-stricken areas at an emergency open meeting of the Security Council on the Middle East issue on the same day.

"China expresses its deepest condolences to the victims of the powerful earthquake in Colombia, and extends its sincere sympathies to the families of the deceased and to those injured. We believe that under the leadership of the Colombian government, the people of Colombia will unite as one to overcome the disaster at an early date, and rebuild their homes," he said.

According to the United Nations, after the Colombian government requested international assistance, the World Food Programme (WEF) is prepared to help the affected people through its food and cash assistance mechanisms.

The WFP currently has approximately 4,500 tons of food reserves in Colombia, which can be quickly delivered and used for relief efforts. In addition, more supplies can be mobilized through its regional and global supply networks.

UN chief "saddened" by human losses in Colombia earthquake