“This is an amazing country.” British tourist Ulvie recently embarked on his third trip to China, visiting Xi’an, Lhasa, and other places, and plans to retrace the Silk Road next year. Dutch tourist Baha originally planned a few weeks' trip to China but ended up staying for six months; the Perez family from Spain, still wanting more after returning home, started a second trip. And Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, recently praised China on social media and “strongly recommended everyone to visit,” further igniting the enthusiasm of foreign tourists for China. They exclaimed, “China is worth exploring repeatedly; once is simply not enough,” and “I just want to come to China again and again…”

A set of data speaks volumes: In the first half of this year, 22.914 million foreigners entered China, a year-on-year increase of 20.4%; among them, visa-free entry accounted for 77.7%, a year-on-year increase of 30.6%. With the continuous optimization of policies such as "instant tax refund upon purchase" for departing tourists, the number of overseas tourists applying for tax refunds in the first half of the year increased by 366% year-on-year.

From the surge in "China tourism" and "China shopping" to the continuous emergence of buzzwords like "ultimate Chineseization" and "China cool," the activities of foreign tourists visiting China have undergone a significant change in recent years: they are no longer satisfied with just sightseeing and buying goods, but are pursuing "living like a local." They haggle in farmers' markets, savor covered-bowl tea in old teahouses, and even learn Baduanjin (a form of traditional Chinese exercise)... This shift from "superficial sightseeing" to "in-depth experience" is driving the outside world to continuously break down stereotypes and reshape its perception of China.

Why does China captivate foreign tourists? Dai Bin, president of the China Tourism Academy, told International Review that China's long history, vast territory, and abundant resources offer diverse tourism experiences, making it difficult for foreign tourists to fully understand the country in a single visit. The constantly evolving modern lifestyle, continuously improving facilitation policies, safe and stable social environment, and the openness and friendliness of the Chinese people all exert a strong attraction on foreign tourists—only through multiple visits can they truly experience a real, multifaceted, and comprehensive China.

"There's simply not enough to see everything"—this is the immediate impression of many foreign tourists after visiting China. This summer, "cultural tourism," "summer retreat tourism," and "eco-tourism" have been booming. From the majestic Great Wall to the white walls and black tiles of ancient towns in Jiangnan; from the Silk Road charm of the Northwest desert to the snow-capped mountains and sacred lakes of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, foreign tourists are constantly surprised and delighted. Wearing Hanfu (traditional Han clothing), strolling through ancient markets, and experiencing intangible cultural heritage... foreign tourists feel the profound heritage of Chinese culture. American tourist Tim said, "I've never seen any country or city with such rich tourism resources!" A previous survey released by the China Tourism Academy showed that over 60% of inbound tourists consider experiencing Chinese culture as their primary purpose for visiting China.

Traveling to China is also incredibly convenient. As of April this year, China has established comprehensive visa-free agreements with 29 countries, implemented unilateral visa-free policies with 50 countries, and expanded its 240-hour visa-free transit policy to 55 countries. The continuous expansion of visa-free policies, the implementation of the 2.0 version of the departure tax refund policy, coupled with the extreme efficiency of high-speed rail and the robust support of mobile payment and AI-powered itinerary planning, all contribute to making "traveling to China" smooth and convenient. "Trains run like the wind," "Travel mini-programs solve language problems," "Travel guides are generated in less than ten seconds"... these features have left foreign tourists thoroughly impressed, allowing them to immerse themselves in the realities of Chinese cities and villages and gain experiences far exceeding their expectations.

Chinese innovations are frequently making headlines, bringing more novel experiences to foreign tourists. They visit new energy vehicle factories to observe intelligent production lines, experience drone delivery and robot interaction on the streets of Shenzhen… Foreign media generally believe that “technology tourism” is becoming an important window for foreign tourists to understand China’s development and seize opportunities. Foldable screen phones, drones, and other “Made in China” products have become new favorites in their suitcases. Adele, a university student from Malaysia, recently embarked on a technology tour of China. She said she hopes to start a business in China and transform from a “spectator” to a “participant” in China’s technological development.

Through in-depth experiences of "China tourism," foreign tourists feel a unique "Chinese-style sense of security." Gallup's 2025 Global Security Report shows that 94% of Chinese people feel safe walking alone at night. Self-checkout in convenience stores, strangers offering directions, and welcoming streetlights at night... this high level of security has become a new hallmark of China's modernization, continuously attracting tourists from around the world. An American blogger was "forcefully fed" by villagers in Guangxi when he got lost; a Russian tourist remarked that "the smiling old lady in the teahouse seemed to know me"; a Swiss tourist said, "We come and go freely, communicate amicably, and naturally draw closer"... This warmth, friendliness, openness, and confidence they experienced have become a deep-seated motivation for "returning to China."

With sincerity, distance cannot be greater than mountains and seas. Over the next five years, China will focus on expanding its opening-up in the service sector, cultivating more "Chinese service" brands. This will provide global tourists with more convenient services, richer life experiences, and deeper cultural insights. A China committed to peaceful development, brimming with innovation and cultural charm, is worthy of repeated visits and exploration by foreign tourists.

(Source: CCTV News; Author: Commentator for International Review)