Global Times: Examining today's China through the lens of 'visa-free transit' policy

BEIJING, Feb. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The first Spring Festival since its designation as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage has been celebrated by festivities nationwide, with "experiencing the Spring Festival in China" being a highlight.

Foreign visitors have been seen on China's high-speed trains and at tourist attractions. Figures show that China received more than 3.43 million inbound tourists from 175 countries and regions during the Spring Festival holiday this year, up 6.2 percent from the previous year.

Since November 2023, China's visa-free transit policy has been continuously adjusted and optimized. Last year, more than 20.11 million foreigners made visa-free trips to China, and the number of travelers eligible for the visa-free transit policy increased by 113.5 percent year-on-year.

Amity between the people, which derives from close contact, holds the key to sound state-to-state relations.

More and more foreign friends are experiencing a real China in a multi-dimensional and comprehensive fashion and discovering it to be a country that is credible, appealing, and respectable. As a result, they have become the tellers of Chinese stories, the disseminators of Chinese voices, emerging as the "Marco Polos of the new era."

Let's take a look at today's China through the eyes of foreign tourists.

Safe China

This is a prosperous and developing China that broadens people's horizon and enriches their knowledge and insights.

Sitting on the fast and comfortable high-speed trains in China, foreign travelers see the richness and vastness of the Chinese land, and experience the remarkable pace often referred to as "China Speed."

Traveling in China with a mobile phone, they immerse themselves in a digital lifestyle, enjoying services ranging from mobile payments and online taxi hailing to online shopping and facial recognition.

"China is already in 2030!" British travel bloggers the Hutchinsons said.

Convenient and efficient drone delivery, smart and eco-friendly modern buildings, 5G networks covering both urban and rural areas, and humanoid robots performing yangge on the Spring Festival Gala stage - these innovative technological advancements have truly amazed foreign tourists. Behind their firsthand experiences lies China's continuously strengthening economic power, technological prowess, and overall national strength.

Safety is a label frequently mentioned by many foreign tourists.

A female blogger commented on how much she appreciates the safety in China, noting that women aren't afraid to walk alone at night, which embodies the freedom enjoyed by the Chinese.

One foreign travel blogger conducted an experiment by leaving a laptop and a backpack filled with money on a table in a store, finding an hour later that the bag and its contents had not been touched.

China has achieved two remarkable feats: rapid economic growth and long-term social stability. The international community recognizes our country as one of the safest in the world, and "Safe China" has become a striking "national brand."

Today's China is brimming with vibrant creativity, as the hardworking Chinese people dedicate their ingenuity and sweat to building a brighter future.

Appealing and amicable China

This is an appealing and amicable China that dispels the world's misconceptions and biases.

Many foreigners visiting China for the first time find that the natural scenery captivates them, and the local culture and customs are delightful, proving to be neither "backward" nor "bad," contrary to what some Western media outlets often portray.

Antonio and Martina, an Italian couple, visited Chengdu in Southwest China's Sichuan Province during their one-day layover.

After a 10-hour flight from Rome, they arrived in Chengdu, in the early hours of the morning. Upon disembarking, they headed straight to the giant panda base, then went to Chen Mapo Tofu Restaurant for lunch, followed by a visit to People's Park to enjoy "baba tea," a way of local people drinking tea in the open air. To them, China's traditional culture and modern development were truly impressive.

The historical grandeur of "He who has not been to the Great Wall is not a true man," the natural beauty of "The light of water sparkles on a sunny day," the advanced technology of "The Milky Way with stars so bright, sinks down into the sea in sleep," and the humanistic warmth of "With dusk, the snow impending, care to have a cup, or no?" ... The ancient Eastern civilization, infused with vibrant modern energy, has won over countless people.

The China inbound tourism development report (2023-24) points out that Chinese culture and high-quality life experiences are the core attractions of the destinations.

The combination of tradition and modernity, along with the seamless integration of culture and economy, is attracting more foreign visitors, turning "first-timers" into "repeat guests."

"The atmosphere of the Spring Festival is like a continuation of the warmth I feel from the Chinese people," said an American tourist who experienced an authentic Chinese New Year. "The Chinese truly love life and are eager to share wonderful moments with others."

"It is always a pleasure to greet a friend from afar." Hospitality and friendliness have always been the Chinese way of welcoming guests, and showing kindness toward friends and neighbors is a long-standing philosophy in Chinese culture.

Through people-to-people exchanges and interactions between China and the world, the global community will come to further understand that China's rapid development is a growing force for world peace; on the path to modernization, our "fellow travelers" will continue to increase.

Open China

This is a confident and open China, showcasing its resolve and strength in development.

The visa-free transit policy itself is a microcosm of China's confidence and opening-up. A foreign researcher noted that this is another important step in China's steady expansion of institutional opening-up.

Focusing on "making entry easier," over 110 measures have been introduced progressively, with policies continuously being relaxed and optimized. The allowed stay time has been extended from 72 hours and 144 hours to 240 hours, the number of applicable ports of entry has increased from 39 to 60, and the number of eligible provinces has expanded from 19 to 24.

Focusing on "ease of use," in March 2024, the General Office of the State Council issued guidelines to further optimize payment services and enhance payment convenience. The People's Bank of China has enhanced the convenience of payment services for foreigners visiting China.

From online to offline, from national borders to stores, the all-encompassing, seamless welcoming services reflect a broader, deeper level of opening-up, demonstrating that "opening-up is a distinctive feature of contemporary China."

Expanding opening-up requires effective management.

Legal and compliant travelers experience seamless customs clearance, supported by meticulously implemented risk controls. This is evidenced by the smart customs procedures at Nanjing Lukou International Airport and Weihai Dashuibo International Airport, which shorten clearance times and enhance passenger experiences. Thanks to innovations in smart customs construction and management mechanisms, the security barriers at our national borders are continually reinforced.

From removing all market access restrictions for foreign investors in the manufacturing sector to accelerating the construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port; from hosting international exhibitions like the China International Import Expo and the China International Fair for Trade in Services to promoting high-quality Belt and Road cooperation... "China will work with all countries to promote friendship and cooperation, enhance mutual learning among different cultures, and build a community with a shared future for mankind." China continuously provides new opportunities to the world through its own new development.

This is the China of today.

SOURCE Global Times