China has introduced several visa exemption measures to welcome foreign visitors, encourage personal exchanges, and enhance mutual understanding. These measures, effective from December 2023, include unilateral visa-free entry for citizens of over a dozen countries as of July 2024. The countries benefiting from this policy are France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Malaysia, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Australia, and Poland.
In the first half of the year, 8.54 million international visitors entered China under these visa-free policies, representing a 190.1 percent increase compared to the previous year, according to the National Immigration Administration (NIA). In July, the NIA announced the expansion of the 72/144-hour visa-free transit policy to three additional entry ports, raising the total number of ports covered to 41.
Reporters from People’s Daily Online interviewed dozens of international visitors in Beijing, who were impressed by their experiences in China.
“China is better than we expected. The people are very happy, very good to us. The food is better than I thought,” said Marc Pradaa Bayona, a 31-year-old visitor from Spain.
German tourist Andreas Siebert, 50, who has visited China ten times, brought his niece and nephew with him this year. He praised the visa-free policy, stating it is excellent for foreigners eager to experience China’s rich culture.
“I have traveled to China a few times and want to introduce my niece and nephew to the Chinese culture to open their minds,” Siebert said. “Sometimes China feels like a home away from home for me.”
The culinary diversity of China has been a highlight for many visitors. Panamanian tourists noted that a “Chinese breakfast,” combining Chinese and Panamanian flavors, is an essential part of Panamanian culture.
“In Panama, we have a large Chinese population, and we are immersing ourselves in their culture. The food is very different, and everything you have in China for breakfast is absolutely delicious,” said Adrian Gonzalez, a first-time visitor from Panama City.
“Every Saturday and Sunday, Panamanians go and eat ‘Chinese breakfast’, so we are familiar with the culture, but being here has been a different experience, and we like it,” added Denisse Gonzalez, Adrian’s sister.
China’s rapid technological development has also intrigued many tourists. Several visitors expressed hopes that their home countries would engage in more technological cooperation with China.
Erik Siebert, a 14-year-old from Leipzig, Germany, was fascinated by the use of technology in daily life in China, such as robots delivering food and power bank rental machines.
“China is a country where technology and culture come together to form a good and advanced country,” said Erik Siebert, hoping that Germany could learn from China’s technological advancements.
Many travelers felt their trips to China were mind-opening and inspiring. Most said they would highly recommend visiting China to their friends and family and were motivated to build long-term connections with the country.
“I would highly recommend my friends and family to visit China. I’ve learned a lot in the few days I’ve been here so far. It’s been a wonderful experience for me,” said Eric Larsen, an American tourist from Las Vegas.
“Maybe in the future, when I return to Australia, it’s a layover [in China] I can do, so why not stay for more days than just one,” said Luca La Vanco, an Italian national working in Australia, who made a two-day layover in Beijing on his way back to Italy.
“It’s an amazing cultural input, it’s opening and changing your minds, especially when you return to your own culture, you have a different perspective,” said Andreas Siebert. “For us, China looks like a country [living] in the future.”