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Thanks to expanding visa-free policies and favorable conditions like more manageable payment methods for international travelers, an increasing number of tourists are flocking to China. 

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson mentioned at a recent press conference that in the first seven months of 2024, the number of foreigners entering China through various ports exceeded 17 million, showing a year-on-year increase of 129.9 percent. 

Based on data from the National Immigration Administration, the number of foreigners entering through visa-free entry channels reached 8.542 million in the first half of the year, showing a significant increase of 190 percent year-on-year. 

Ctrip Group, a leading online travel agency in China, announced that net revenue in its unaudited financial performance for the second quarter of 2024 reached 12.8 billion yuan ($1.8 billion), a year-on-year increase of 14 percent. 

Each traveler has a unique perspective and experience. A multitude of foreign tourists have shared their experiences of traveling in China online, with the traffic data surpassing 1 billion views. ChinaTravel has become a buzzword on social media.

So what have international travelers highlighted in their China travel experiences?

Many travelers have expressed shock and fascination after uncovering China's rich history and culture by visiting museums and historical sites and experiencing traditional activities. China's vast and diverse natural landscapes, from pristine forests to majestic mountains, have been captured in travel photos and praised by tourists for their scenic beauty. The modern achievements of China, including high-speed trains, intelligent city features, and green development, have left a deep impression on international visitors.

Foreign visitors often comment on the safety they feel while traveling in China, sharing personal anecdotes of feeling secure while exploring different parts of China, including late-night walks without fear of theft or assault. Female travelers, in particular, have reported feeling safe in China, noting that they do not experience the same level of street harassment as in some other countries.

Stories of friendly interactions with locals eager to help foreign visitors have contributed to a warm and welcoming atmosphere for tourists, reflecting their deep engagement with locals. These comments from international travelers and vloggers reflect a growing interest and positive reception toward travel in China.

Then what are the catalysts behind the boom in inbound tourism?

At a micro level, besides the 72/144 hours visa-free transit policy, Chinese consumer goods and services offer a globally leading cost-performance ratio and richness, enhancing the attractiveness of inbound tourism. As of July, the cumulative CPI in China since ­January 2020 was about 27 percent lower than that of the US, with the service industry CPI base index 17 percent lower than that of the US. 

According to statistics from the online travel planning site Budget Your Trip, as of August, among global popular tourist destinations, the average daily travel expense in China is $80, with daily accommodation and dining costs being $69 and $23, respectively. 

Accordingly, the resumption of flights has also been a contributing factor. As of August 5, the number of international flights has recovered to nearly 90 percent of 2019, marking a 45 percent increase compared to 2023. 

According to data from the National Immigration Administration, by the second quarter of this year, the number of Chinese mainland entries and exits by residents of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan exceeded the level of 2019, and foreigners have recovered to 60 percent. Foreign tourists spend an average of 3,459 yuan per person per day in China, directly driving consumption to exceed 100 billion yuan. 

With the goal of perfecting the modern tourism industry system and accelerating the construction of a strong tourism country, inbound tourism is expected to receive more policy support to unleash its limitless potential. 

"In the 16-year history of the Beijing Fringe Festival, people have come and gone, but the young gaze, heartbeat and young feeling have always been there for the festival," said Meng Jinghui, artistic director of the Beijing Fringe Festival, on Wednesday night.    

The annual fest for young theatergoers, which runs until October 7, will feature 15 theater works across 30 performances staged by young actors and producers across the city. 

"Theaters for young people and international horizons are always at the central stage of the Beijing Fringe Festival," added Meng. 

Among these performances are the opening shows, When Time Comes to the Second Half, Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles and Homeland. 

As 2024 marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France, French theaters will be highlighted at this year's fringe festival, Li Jianjun, the festival's program director, told the Global Times on Thursday. 

In the Drama Online section, videos of outstanding theatrical works from the Festival d'Avignon will be screened during the festival. 

Besides this, the Tribute to Molière section will host events such as recitations of Molière's classic plays, introductions by scholars, and screenings of Molière's plays.

Ever since 2014, the section 40 Hours V Drama has become the most challenging and exciting part of the Beijing Fringe Festival. Participating creators randomly select topics and complete creations in a designated space within a limited 48-hour window. They then take turns presenting their creative results on the stage. Professional judges and public judges voting and selecting awards at this year's event are sure to see fierce competition among young creators. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday signed a presidential order awarding national medals and national honorary titles to 15 individuals on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Four of the 15 individuals that were awarded the Medal of the Republic were Wang Yongzhi, a pioneer of China's manned space program, renowned medical scientist Wang Zhenyi, wheat breeding and agricultural strategy expert Li Zhensheng and veteran war hero Huang Zongde.

Dilma Rousseff, president of the New Development Bank and former Brazilian president, was awarded the Friendship Medal. 

Ten individuals were awarded national honorary titles. Among them was Bayika Kalidibek, a border guard of Tajik ethnicity in the Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. His family has guarded the border for 70 years across three generations, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

His son, Laqini, continued the border duty but tragically sacrificed his life heroically while rescuing children trapped in an ice cave. 

National honorary titles are given to individuals who have made significant contributions across various fields. Their outstanding achievements underscore the Party's and the country's remarkable progress since the founding of the People's Republic of China, analysts said. 

The Friendship Medal is China's highest state honor for foreigners, reserved for those who have made outstanding contributions to China's modernization drive, promoting exchange and cooperation between China and the world, and safeguarding world peace, according to the Xinhua News Agency. 

Rousseff is the first woman to have held the Brazilian presidency, and maintained close relations with China during her tenure. After being appointed president of the New Development Bank, Rousseff has been making significant contributions to fostering exchanges and cooperation between China, Brazil, and other BRICS countries, Jiang Shixue, a professor at the Center for Latin American Studies at Shanghai University, told the Global Times on Friday. 

At this special moment - when China is about to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China - honoring the foreign friend not only signifies an honor but also highlights the relationship between China and Brazil and our commitment to the BRICS nations, said Jiang. 

China's top health authority on Thursday advocated people having marriage and childbirth at an appropriate age, called for increased efforts to create a more childbearing-friendly society, in response to the recent changes in the country's demographic development.

Yu Xuejun, deputy head of the National Health Commission (NHC), said at a press conference on Thursday that the new changes occurring in China's demographic development, including low birth rate, an aging population and regional population disparities, are a natural outcome of economic and social development at certain stages, reflecting global demographic transitions and broader trends of modernization.

Yu underscored the importance to optimize birth support policy system and incentive mechanisms, calling for persistent, long-term efforts from all localities to promote sustainable demographic development. 

Yu said the NHC will focus more efforts on advocating marriage and childbirth at appropriate ages, as well as optimal childbearing practices. It will call for shared parenting responsibilities between spouses, aiming to guide young people toward positive perspectives on marriage, childbirth, and family, fostering a new culture of marriage and childbearing. 

According to the latest statistical bulletin on the development of civil affairs in 2023 released by the Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs, a total of 7.68 million couples tied the knot throughout the year of 2023, marking a 12.4 percent increase compared to the previous year. This is the first rise in marriage registrations in nearly one decade, surpassing the 7.64 million marriages recorded in 2021, Chinese media Yicai.com reported.

He Yafu, an independent demographic expert who monitors marriage registration data, attributed the rise in marriage registrations in 2023 to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which led many young people to delay their weddings until 2023. 

He noted that the number of marriage registrations in the first half of 2024 decreased year-on-year, indicating that the post-pandemic compensatory effect has gradually faded. 

He also mentioned another contributing factor: Many young people chose to get married in 2023 with the intention of having children in the auspicious Year of the Dragon in 2024, He told the Global Times on Thursday.

In 2023, 9.02 million babies were born, resulting in a birth rate of 6.39 per thousand people, according to National Bureau of Statistics.

China will continue to firmly promote high-level opening-up, create a market-oriented, rule-of-law and internationalized business environment, and provide more opportunities for enterprises from all countries, including EU members, said Mao Ning, spokesperson of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at on Wednesday commenting on a position paper published by the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China. 

China remains, and will continue to be, a crucial engine driving global economic growth and a promising land for investment and business ventures from around the world, Mao further noted.

The remarks were made in response to a media request for comment on the European Business in China Position Paper 2024/2025 published by the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China (European Chamber) in Beijing. The latest position paper collected responses from more than 1,700 member companies of the chamber operating in China.

EU businesses remain highly committed to China, Jens Eskelund, president of the European Chamber, said at the launch of the position paper on Wednesday, indicating the importance of the Chinese market to many companies from the bloc.

The potential of Chinese market remains attractive, Eskelund told the Global Times, noting that China still has supply chain efficiency, and within many sectors, the technologies and efficiencies in China are very hard to find elsewhere.

The chamber head also mentioned several important efforts that the Chinese government has made, and how these efforts may inspire foreign businesses, including those from the EU.

European firms' perceptions of the Chinese business environment might be changing, yet they still have a shared interest in China's continued success, the chamber said.

Efforts have been noted in several areas including human resources and business travel, where the chamber said that "there was an early, welcome breakthrough with the extension of China's preferential individual income tax policy for foreign nationals, and the waiving of visa requirements for citizens from several EU member states."

The chamber also mentioned several other areas where the Chinese government's efforts have been noticeable including the digital and cyber areas, access to green energy, and investment promotion and facilitation in China.

While acknowledging the efforts of the Chinese government toward opening-up, the European Chamber's position paper was also filled with concerns such as China's "economic slowdown" and "overcapacity" in certain industries, claims that Chinese experts said do not "fully reflect the complete picture of China's current development."

"In recent years, due to changes in the external environment, China's economic development has indeed faced some challenges... there is also the background of China's overall economic transformation, including industrial upgrading and the elimination of outdated capacity," Cui Hongjian, a professor at the Academy of Regional and Global Governance at Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times on Wednesday, noting that during this economic transition period, there might be some impact on European businesses.

However, Cui noted that it is essential for EU companies to evaluate China's overall environment and development with a reasonable and long-term perspective.

"The Chinese market remains one of the most stable and highest-return markets for European companies, and this is undeniable," Cui said.

The US House of Representatives is speeding up voting this week on up to 28 bills that target China, touching on a slew of issues including Hong Kong-related affairs, and restrictions on Chinese biotech companies, drones and electric vehicles (EVs), in a move that Chinese experts see as weaponizing legislative measures and using China as a "bargaining chip" to gain more political points. 

In response to a bill passed on Monday that aims to restrict business with Chinese biotechnology firms under the excuse of "national security," Chinese Foreign Ministry on Tuesday voiced firm opposition to such discriminatory actions.  

"China Week," a term coined by US media, shows all-out attempts to suppress China's development and influence to bolster American allies in the Asia-Pacific, according to media reports.

The bills include measures against Chinese biotech firms, EVs and drones, limiting Chinese nationals from purchasing farmland, more export controls, and reinstating an initiative to combat so-called espionage targeting US intellectual property.

The measures in the bills that relate to China mainly focus on restrictions concerning China's role in global supply chains, as the Republicans are trying to create obstacles for China in key areas aiming to limit China's development speed and influence, Lü Xiang, a research fellow from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times.

Given the recent visit by US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan to Beijing, which indicates the Biden administration's will to stabilize China-US ties, the US House's legislation aims to sabotage and undermine Democrats' performance on the diplomatic front and foster intra-party unity within GOP, Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Tuesday. 

"These bills only reflect the positions of some extreme anti-China figures, yet they could cause substantial damage to the stability of global supply chains and the interests of American businesses," Li said. 

Illustration: Liu Rui/GT

Multiple types of helicopters of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Army recently conducted replenishment on a maritime platform, a tactic experts said on Thursday enables the choppers to return to the frontline faster in cross-sea operations.

A brigade affiliated with the PLA 71st Group Army recently organized its helicopters to conduct a takeoff and landing training on a maritime platform in the Yellow Sea during a littoral exercise, according to China Central Television (CCTV) on Wednesday.

After completing a defense penetration operation, a formation of various helicopter types chose a maritime relay platform to land and replenish fuel and munitions, enabling a quicker return to combat, CCTV reported, noting that during the replenishment, the helicopters received supplies without turning off their engines.

The CCTV report showed that the maritime platform is a large ship with a large helicopter deck, and the helicopters involved in the drill included the Z-19 attack helicopter and the Z-20 utility helicopter.

Utilizing large maritime platforms for helicopter replenishment saves the time needed for helicopters to return to land bases, significantly enhancing combat efficiency, a Chinese military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Thursday.

If helicopters are damaged during a mission, they can also conduct emergency landings on the maritime platforms, which could save them from crashing, the expert said.

The mobile maritime platforms can sail to safe positions under the escort of other warships and warplanes, the expert said, noting that they serve as good additions to the PLA Navy's amphibious assault ships and amphibious landing ships that also have large helicopter decks.

Observers noted that PLA Army helicopters often participate in maritime exercises. In another recent drill, conducted by a brigade affiliated with the PLA 83rd Group Army over the Bohai Sea, Z-8L transport helicopters, Z-20 utility helicopters as well as Z-10 and Z-19 attack helicopters practiced low-air defense penetration and fire strikes, according to a separate CCTV report on Wednesday.

China's ongoing efforts to support development in Africa are receiving a positive reception, with a recent survey showing African youth appreciate the country's contributions in areas such as investment and infrastructure.

According to the 2024 African Youth Survey, released on Tuesday by the Johannesburg-based Ichikowitz Family Foundation, 82 percent of respondents perceive China's influence on the continent as positive.

The survey, conducted among 5,604 respondents aged 18 to 24 across 16 African nations, highlights that China remains one of the most influential non-African countries for the continent's youth. 

Positive views of China's impact were nearly unanimous in Rwanda and Chad (96 percent each), Kenya (95 percent), and Nigeria (93 percent).

Key factors driving these favorable perceptions include the affordability of Chinese products (41 percent) and Chinese investments in infrastructure development (40 percent). 

China has been actively fostering cooperation with Africa in capacity building, offering initiatives such as the Luban Workshops, which focus on practical skills, and Confucius Institutes, which promote cultural exchange. 

The 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) is being held in Beijing from September 4 to 6. Talent support policies and personnel exchanges have become a hot topic of discussion.

China is an increasingly popular destination for African students seeking international education, providing talented African people with front-row seats to the future of innovation, Karanja Ngina, a young Kenyan observer who closely follows news about the Forum, told the Global Times.

Fang Jing, a 24-year-old who exports small commodities to Africa, told the Global Times that many of her African business partners are curious about how China's internet economy and mobile payment systems work. 

"They follow news on China's cutting-edge technology closely. I can feel their enthusiasm and aspiration for modernization," Fang said.

China-Africa cooperation delivers strong results, becomes international model GraphicAnalysis: GT