From bustling night markets and major trade hubs to national ski resorts, international visitors are immersing themselves in China's vibrant culture, cutting-edge innovations, and exciting sports competitions, as the country's inbound tourism boom shows no sign of slowing.
An increasing number of international tourists are frequenting a popular night market in Yingkou, a port city in northeast China's Liaoning Province famous for its fresh, plump, and affordable seafood, during the summer evenings.
To accommodate the influx of visitors from around the world, all 170-plus stalls in the market are now equipped with mobile payment systems, making it easier than ever for foreign customers to sample the local delicacies.
"I often see Chinese night markets online. I really find it interesting. It's so lively, and I really feel safe," said a South African tourist.
The inbound travel surge has also been reflected in railway statistics. According to official data, China's national railway network saw over 14.85 million foreign passenger trips from January to July, marking a year-on-year jump of 32.5 percent.
This summer, Yiwu City in east China's Zhejiang Province, home to the world's largest small-commodities wholesale market, has drawn a flood of overseas buyers and tourists eager to discover the latest products, including cutting-edge robots, interactive electronic dogs, and next-generation mechanical exoskeletons.
For Syrian tourist Saed, China's rapid, futuristic technological advancements, which are on full display at the Yiwu market, are one of the biggest draws.
"It's the future. That's why I came to China, honestly. I think in China you have to come every year or every few months to follow up with the technology, because the technology is developing way too fast," he said.
Saed's sentiments are backed by numbers. In the first half of this year, the Yiwu International Trade City saw a daily average of 12,000 foreign customer visits, a 30 percent increase from the same period last year.
Even China's winter destinations are getting in on the summer action. At a national-level ski resort in Chongli, a district of Zhangjiakou in the northern Hebei Province, which served as the co-host city for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games, a mountain bike race recently brought together riders from China, the United States, France, New Zealand, and other countries.
The resort's cable cars, normally used to transport skiers and snowboarders in winter, have been retrofitted to carry mountain bikes during the warmer months.
A competitor from New Zealand said he was impressed by the scale of the race.
"I think the biggest difference is the size. This event is quite a lot bigger than anything that they have in New Zealand. It's quite a lot longer and quite a lot more races. I think it's good," he said.
Night markets, trade hubs, mountain sports draw int'l visitors amid China's inbound tourism boom
