Illustration: Liu Xiangya/GT

 
Posting a video of his travels around Southwest China's Sichuan Province on social media platform Bilibili two days ago, South Korean vlogger Dayi is one of many South Korean travelers who have flocked to China recently after the implementation of a visa-free policy for South Korea. From early November till now, the policy has not only brought tourists, but also ignited a cultural interplay between the two countries. 

Dubbing himself a "travel commando," Dayi is the epitome of South Korean visitors' burning desire for "China Travel." 

Before Dayi made his trip, 26-year-old South Korean tourist Yvonne jumped on a plane to Shanghai right after the policy was launched. According to data from Ctrip, bookings for Shanghai among South Korean tourists rose more than 180 percent year-on-year after the policy was introduced. 

Noting that China is a "place of wonder," Yvonne told the Global Times that the policy has allowed her to come to China "every two weeks on average."   
Yvonne's story shows the policy has not only enticed people to come on a single trip, but also set the stage for return visits. Multiple visits have enabled South Korean visitors to enjoy China's comprehensive and diverse cultures. 

This might be the reason why, in addition to Beijing, Shanghai and Zhangjiajie, Central China's Hunan Province, the policy has inspired South Korean tourists to explore lesser-known sites in China. 

Taking 34-year-old Heejung as an example, she told the Global Times that she just paid a trip to South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region to satisfy her curiosity about the local dish luosifen (river snails rice noodle) and the brocade art unique to the Zhuang ethnic minority group. 

"Chinese culture is unfamiliar to me, yet by tasting the food here and watching Chinese handicrafts being made, I felt a kinship since they share some similarities with South Korean culture," Heejung noted. 

When the visa-free policy was first introduced, the surge in South Korean tourists made the hashtag "leaving work on Friday to go to China" a trending topic on social media. 

It can be seen that China's unilateral 30-day visa-free policy has truly sparked the cultural interplay between China and South Korea. 

"China's extension of the visa-free policy from 72 hours to 30 days can be viewed as a strategy aimed at making a journey here not just a trip but a genuine cultural tourism experience," Gao Zhanyang, a tourist industry expert, told the Global Times. 

Indeed, South Korean tourists are starting to embrace smaller spots and cultural events such as the former site of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, China's TV and filmmaking base Hengdian World Studios, and Sichuan Opera in Chengducapital of Sichuan Province. Such diverse travel demand needed even a broader range of tourism services. 

Providing local guided tours is one of the services that are in high demand. According to financial news outlet Lanjinger, the price per day of a Korean-speaking guide for custom tours is generally between 600 ($82) and 2,000 yuan. If the tourist also needs a car, the price can increase on this basis by 1000-2000 yuan more.

On the one hand, this high demand can boost local tourist growth, on the other hand it can enhance cultural exchanges. For instance, on the lifestyle-sharing platform Little Red Book, or Xiaohongshu, there are Chinese tour guides offering free guide services because they are curious about South Korean culture, too. 

"Located in Harbin, I don't want anything but to help tourists while practicing my Korean," one netizen posted on Xiaohongshu. 
Whether it is a paid or free tour guide services, through communication, people get to know each other and introduce their hometown culture, demonstrating how China's travel policies are subtly promoting people-to-people exchanges. 

These person-to-person exchanges may not fully capture the cross-cultural exchange; but when one person trusts another, they begin to take an interest in that person's country and culture. This is why Yvonne told the Global Times that she has made many friends in China and gradually has learned how to apply Chinese-style makeup from them and began filming Chinese-themed short videos on Douyin.

Although South Korean tourists visiting China has become something of a phenomenon recently, these tourists are not the only ones who have benefited from China's visa-free policy. As of the end of November 2024, China had granted unilateral visa-free entry to travelers from 38 nations, allowing stays of up to 30 days, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

The stamp in each passport is not just a permit, but an invitation - an invitation for more people to see the diverse aspects of China in person.

The author is a reporter with the Global Times. life@globaltimes.com.cn