Since the beginning of 2024, the inbound tourism market in China has seen a rapid revival. Visitors from around the world are marveling at China's scenery, savoring its culture, and deeply experiencing the unique modern beauty of the Chinese nation, falling in love with their "Cultural China Journey."

Foreign tourists' museum bookings increase tenfold

Clarisse Le Guernic, a French national who has been living in China for nine years and works in the tourism industry in Shanghai, has observed a notable "return" of foreign tourists this year.

"Recently, we have been organizing tours almost every day, with a ratio of foreign to Chinese clients at about 6:4." During her tours, Clarisse has noticed changes in tourists' preferences. "Previously, many tourists focused on visiting major attractions like the Bund, Yu Garden, Nanjing Road, and Xintiandi. Now, they are proactively requesting activities such as walking along Suzhou Creek and exploring the plane tree-lined areas in depth."

Inbound cultural tourism has been particularly popular this year. Platform data shows that since the beginning of this year, foreign tourists' bookings for museums in China have increased tenfold compared to last year. More and more foreign visitors are delving into Chinese civilization through museum visits.

Some adventurous foreign tourists are also embracing local customs, participating in rural banquets, experiencing ethnic minority cultures, savoring spicy hotpots in Tianshui, and watching village basketball games in Guizhou. They are following cultural tourism trends to experience the diverse facets of China.

Experiencing traditional and modern China

Rafael Saavedra, a short video blogger from Venezuela, has lived in China for nine years. For this year's Lantern Festival, he donned a red jacket with a dragon motif and went to Huizhou, Guangdong, to watch the grand dragon dance parade featuring 18 national intangible cultural heritage dragon dance teams. "It was my first time seeing so many dragon dance troupes. I felt the diversity and charm of Chinese culture. Participating in these festive activities allows me to better understand the family culture and history of China."

As a long-term resident of Shenzhen, Rafael believes, "The moment you step into this city, you can feel its modern vibe. From High-tech Park and Shekou to Shenzhen Bay Park, there are skyscrapers as well as outdoor spaces for running and cycling."

Elizabeth, a Russian student pursuing a master's degree in Chinese Studies at Jinan University, finds Guangzhou to be a unique blend of Eastern and Western cultures. "Walking through Guangzhou, I see classical temples standing alongside skyscrapers and modern buildings. Together, they create a seamless blend of past and present, and it feels like stepping into a time capsule."

In her spare time, Elizabeth enjoys traveling to different cities to learn about local cultures. "From the Greater Bay Area to Shanghai, Nanjing, Xiamen, and Harbin, every journey is unforgettable. My favorite is Guangdong, where I can watch lion dances in Foshan and admire Lingnan architecture in Zhongshan, immersing myself in the atmosphere of traditional Chinese art and culture."

Tourism and consumption made easier

During the interview, Rafael Saavedra was on a high-speed train from Shenzhen to Pingxiang, Jiangxi, for filming. "I love high-speed trains just as much as I love other things of China. They're clean and convenient. Even as a foreigner, I can book tickets online, and with just my passport, I can check in and board within minutes. The stations have detailed English signs and guide services, making them very foreigner-friendly."

As a global travel blogger, Ken Abroad from Germany has visited China twice, exploring cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xi'an, Harbin, Hong Kong, and Macao, documenting his trips in videos. Initially, he needed friends' help for electronic payments, but on his recent trip to Guangzhou, he could use his foreign bank card to link with mobile payment apps. This allowed him to independently book train tickets, ride the subway, and haggle at food stalls. "It's so convenient!" Ken frequently exclaimed.

Source: Yangcheng Evening News

外国游客爱上中国行

2024年以来，入境游市场加速回暖。来自世界各地的游客在中国叹风景、品人文，深入感受中华民族特有的时代之美，爱上“文化中国行”。

外国游客博物馆订单翻十倍

在上海从事旅游业的乐盖曦（Clarisse Le Guernic）来自法国，在中国已生活9年。她深刻感受到今年以来外国游客明显“回归”。

“最近我们基本每天发团，外国客人和中国客人的比例大约是6:4。”在带团过程中，乐盖曦还发现，外国游客的喜好正在变化，“以往许多游客都是以逛一遍景点为主，外滩、豫园、南京路、新天地等，现在则会主动要求体验苏州河边漫步、梧桐区深度游。”

入境文博游在今年尤为火热，平台数据显示，今年以来外国游客预订国内博物馆订单量较去年翻10倍，越来越多外国游客通过参观博物馆深入了解中华文明。

一些会玩的外国游客也开始“入乡随俗”，农村吃酒席，体验少数民族风情，去天水吃麻辣烫，去贵州看村BA……跟随文旅热点体验多元中国。

感受传统和现代的中国

委内瑞拉的短视频博主拉斐尔（Rafael Saavedra）已在中国生活了9年。今年元宵节，他特地穿上印有龙形图案的红色外套来到广东惠州，观看由18个龙舞类国家级非遗代表性项目组成的龙舞大巡游。“我第一次见到那么多的龙舞队伍，感受到中国文化如此多元和有趣。通过参与这些节庆活动，我能够更深入地理解中国的家庭文化和历史。”

作为一名常居深圳的外国人，在他看来，“一踏进这座城市，你就能感受到现代的气息，从高新园、蛇口再到深圳湾公园，既有摩天大楼，也有供市民跑步、骑车的户外空间。”

俄罗斯姑娘丽莎（Elizabeth）是暨南大学中国学专业的一名在读研究生。她认为自己所在的广州是东西方文化交融之地，魅力独特。“漫步在广州的街道，带有古典气息的寺庙矗立在摩天大楼和现代化建筑旁边，就像进入了一个时间胶囊，过去与现在无缝交织在一起。”

课余时间，丽莎喜欢去不同的城市旅行，了解当地文化。“从粤港澳大湾区到上海、南京、厦门、哈尔滨等城市，每趟旅程都令我难忘。其中最喜欢的还是广东，在佛山看舞狮，在中山看岭南古建筑……可以让自己沉浸在中国传统艺术文化氛围里。”

旅游和消费更便捷

接受记者采访时，拉斐尔已踏上了从深圳前往江西萍乡的高铁。“我喜欢高铁就像喜欢中国的其他事物一样，干净、方便。即使作为一个外国人，你也可以在网上预定高铁票，只要拿着护照，几分钟就能检票登车。车站里有详细的英文标识和导游服务，对外国游客非常友好。”

作为全球旅游博主，来自德国的Ken Abroad已两次来访中国，打卡了北京、上海、广州、西安、哈尔滨、香港、澳门等多个城市并拍摄成体验视频。最初他还需要友人帮助进行电子支付，但最近一次到广州，他已经能用外国银行卡绑定手机支付软件，独立订火车票、坐地铁、到小吃摊砍价买东西……“这太方便了！”Ken把这句话挂在了嘴边。

文丨记者 刘星彤 梁善茵
图丨受访者提供
翻译丨刘佳慧