Galloping into custom, int’l vacationers flock to China for 12 months of the Horse Spring Competition

BEIJING: With the 12 months of the Horse on the horizon, extra worldwide vacationers are becoming a member of China’s conventional Spring Competition festivities.
From the colourful streets of Shanghai to the historic stilt homes of central China’s Hunan, the Spring Competition, which falls on Feb. 17 this 12 months, has developed into a worldwide cultural occasion, triggering a surge in inbound tourism.
Information from main journey platforms point out that within the weeks main as much as the pageant, flight bookings by overseas vacationers skyrocketed by over 400 p.c 12 months on 12 months.
The surge in guests is basically fueled by enhanced visa-free and journey facilitation measures. Newest information present that in 2025, China expanded its unilateral visa-free entry, permitting residents of 48 nations to enter with no visa, whereas the variety of nations providing reciprocal visa exemptions rose to 29.
Whereas conventional hubs like Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and Guangzhou stay favorites, the map of “China Stylish” is increasing. Lanzhou, capital of northwest China’s Gansu Province, and Hohhot, capital of Interior Mongolia Autonomous Area, have seen customer numbers quadruple.
“There’s a rising variety of youthful inbound guests and their spending is shifting towards experiences reasonably than simply sightseeing,” stated Zhou Weihong, deputy common supervisor of the Spring Tour based mostly in Shanghai. From bustling markets to high-tech museums, overseas vacationers are in search of an genuine slice of Chinese language life.
Within the tropical south, Hainan Province has turn out to be a major vacation spot for experiential consumption. Because the Hainan Free Commerce Port formally launched island-wide particular customs operations in late 2025, procuring has turn out to be a central a part of many itineraries.
Daria, a customer from Russia who just lately purchased an Honor pill at a duty-free mall in Hainan, famous that the costs had been “considerably extra aggressive.”
Kate, who’s on her second journey to the island province, praised the digital comfort. “Utilizing WeChat for transport and funds is very easy that China has turn out to be my go-to vacation spot for rest,” she stated, including that her youngsters at the moment are followers of the blind packing containers at retail store MINISO.
The vacation rush can also be reaching smaller, culturally wealthy cities. Mario, a traveler from Rome, skilled his “first shock” in Furong City, a scenic spot in Hunan Province identified for its waterfall and Tujia ethnic heritage.
Mario was significantly captivated by the Tujia brocade, an intangible cultural heritage craft. “Watching the artisans’ fingers fly throughout the threads… It’s not only a memento; it’s a narrative woven in silk,” he stated.
As evening fell, the traditional city took on a festive glow as native residents and vacationers gathered in a circle round a rising bonfire to bop to the rhythm of conventional music. For Mario, the heat of the locals was as memorable because the surroundings.
“This can be a distinctive cultural expertise that I’ve by no means felt in Italy. It has made me fall in love with conventional Chinese language tradition much more,” he stated. -Xinhua