Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian Photo: Chinese Foreign Ministry

China welcomes foreign visitors' continued interest in China, to better experience its rich history, natural beauty, advanced technology, and cultural sentiment, Lin Jian, spokesperson from China's Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday, citing four Chinese poems.

He made the remarks in response to a media question for comments regarding the recent popularity of graphics and videos about traveling to China are popular on overseas social media platforms. For example, a single video labeled "China Travel" garnered over 80 million views on YouTube, and TikTok videos have received nearly 1 billion views. "Going to China after work on Friday" has emerged as a trending buzzword on social media in South Korea and other countries.

Lin said that many foreign friends have showcased through their lenses the prosperity of China's modern cities and the vibrant daily lives of ordinary people. Among them, there are both "first-time visitors" who are full of curiosity about China and "returning visitors" who are attracted by the charm of China.

Lin noted that China has established full visa exemptions with 26 countries, implementing unilateral visa-free policies for 38 countries including France and Germany. China has also implemented visa-free transit policies for 54 countries, and signed mutual visa exemption agreements with 157 countries and regions.

China announced on Tuesday a significant relaxation of its visa-free transit policy, extending the permitted stay for eligible foreign travelers from the original 72 and 144 hours to 240 hours, or 10 days. Effective immediately, 21 additional ports have been designated for visa-free entry and exit, Lin said.

According to the Xinhua News Agency, a notable feature of the policy adjustment is the introduction of cross-regional travel that allows foreign visitors to move freely across the 24 specified provincial-level regions during their 10-day stay.

China recorded nearly 29.22 million inbound foreign visits between January and November 2024, up 86.2 percent year-on-year. Of these, 17.45 million entered the country visa-free, marking a significant 123.3 percent year-on-year growth.

Global Times