[Global Times-Global Network Reporter Ding Yazhi Tommy Chen Zishuai] With the continuous expansion of the visa-free "circle of friends", the continuous optimization of the departure tax refund process, and the increasingly extensive coverage of mobile payment, "coming to China for the holidays" has become a new choice for global tourists. According to a recent report on the website of Travel and Tourism World (TTW), during the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays this year, China's inbound tourism market has grown substantially, highlighting the growing global interest in China's rich cultural heritage, modern development and scenic spots. According to the data of the National Immigration Administration, it is predicted that the average daily number of inbound and outbound passengers during the holidays will exceed 2 million.

The Global Times reporter interviewed many foreign tourists who came to China during the two festivals this year, many of whom were the first to step on this beautiful land. They told reporters that they not only felt the technological prosperity and vitality of major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and China, but also found the ¡°feeling of home¡± in Suzhou, Kash, and other places, ¡°we saw a diverse and vibrant China that is completely different from what Western media describes.¡±

In China, I found a familiar and unfamiliar home.

"When you come to Chinese mainland for the first time, you must start from a big city!" Xiaoxue is a Chinese who grew up in Malaysia. On National Day this year, she and two friends set foot on Chinese soil for the first time. "We coordinated each other's holidays and were lucky enough to meet China's National Day. A crowded'baptism'is waiting for us."

Xiaoxue's first stop is Beijing. "I have loved watching Chinese TV dramas since I was a child, especially costume dramas. When I first walked into the Forbidden City, the vermilion palace wall and the roof of the Golden Palace in front of me were more impactful than the pictures I saw in costume dramas. The imagination accumulated through TV dramas suddenly became a reality, both familiar and strange, distant and cordial." Xiaoxue told the Global Times reporter that she especially likes Chinese cultural and creative products.

"If Beijing is magnificent, then Shanghai is fashionable and bustling," Xiaoxue commented, who visited the Bund with her friends, took a sightseeing cruise, and wandered around Huaihai Road and other neighborhoods to get a close feel for the city's bustling. In her opinion, Shanghai is a city with great "fireworks" and vitality, but the weather is hotter than she expected, which is almost the same as Malaysia. The Hanfu experience that she originally wanted to try was finally given up because she was afraid of the heat.

According to TW reports, during the holiday of this year, the number of international tourists in China's main tourist destinations reached an unprecedented level, of which Beijing, Shanghai and Xi'an became the main "focuses". tourism platform travel provided to the reporter of the "Global Times" data show that more and more cities optimize entry tourism services, take Beijing for example, at present there are five municipal parks receiving more international tourists (Zhao and Park, Sky Hall, North Sea, Scenic Mountains and Zoo) installed more than 3,200 English language guides; Beijing White Tower Temple, Confucius and National Guard Museum and other 13 key museum landscapes also opened the English-language guided specialty page and "Listen to Beijing's Voice" English interface, to help foreign tourists feel traditional culture.

The curiosity and desire for traditional Chinese culture, also made some historical ancient cities a popular destination for foreign tourists. She told the Global Times reporter, during this trip, she also went to Suzhou, in her heart, the city is the synonym of "wonderful". She also remembered the blue stone board on the Pyeongchang Road forward, the ancient building on both sides carrying the rhythm of Jiangnan water country, "We slowly walk, occasionally staying to see the small store on the street, and also buy a shirt in a store. The shopkeeper helped me with a simple hairstyle, this small experience became a special memory on the way to Suzhou."

As a Malaysian Chinese, Xiao Xiao learned Chinese from a young age, she said that the Chinese community in Malaysia has also struggled to preserve Chinese culture and only really stand on Chinese soil, I can more genuinely feel the Chinese culture: the monuments of the palace, the ancient buildings of Suzhou, the Chinese signs of the streets, all make me feel closer to my own roots. "

Like this time to Malaysia, I can't stand to keep looking at the photos in the phone: the red walls of the palace, the lights of the beach, the ancient bridge of Suzhou, and those peculiar literary little things, although there are a lot of people, but every corner hides surprises. "

¡°The ¡®contradiction beauty¡¯ of China¡¯s modern and historical coexistence fascinates me.¡±

This year, many foreigners choose to come to China to celebrate, largely thanks to the push of the visa-free policy. Last November 30, China trialed the unilateral visa-free policy of entry to Spain by expanding Chinese business, tourism, visiting relatives, visiting friends, transit, exchanging visits, visa-free stay extended to 30 days. The 26-year-old Spanish youth George recently came to China through visa-free, he told the Global Times reporter that he felt it was convenient to come to China without a visa, "cool."

When George visited Shanghai, Yangtsé and Chongqing, he said, ¡°Chinese cities are vibrant from morning to evening, and the coexistence of modern facilities and historical architecture has brought me a huge ¡®contradiction¡¯.¡± George said that he chose to travel to China because he has always loved Asian culture, especially Chinese culture. His Chinese friends have also introduced him to a lot about Chinese landscapes, so visiting China has always been his wish.

George was most impressed by the experience of exploring delicious food through the streets and the level of technological development in China. He said: "I originally thought Europe was already very developed, but after coming to China, I discovered that China's technology is developing rapidly, and there are charging piles and shared bicycles everywhere on the streets. In comparison, Europe is a bit lagging behind."

During the week-long trip, his favorite was Chongqing, the last stop. At first, he thought that Chongqing was not as well-known as Shanghai and should be a small city, and his psychological expectations were not high. However, after actually arriving in Chongqing, he realized that it was a metropolis with convenient transportation and complete facilities. Although he has only stayed in Chongqing for a few days and has not fully explored the mountain city, he is willing to recommend everyone he knows to travel to Chongqing.

Public reports show that as of September 15 this year, my country has implemented unilateral visa-exemption for 47 countries and achieved comprehensive mutual visa-exemption with 29 countries. The coverage of the transit visa-exemption policy has been expanded to 55 countries, greatly facilitating foreigners. Travel to China. TTW reported that tourists from all over the world are heading to China, most of whom are from Asian neighbors as well as Europe and North America.

The relevant person in charge of Ctrip Group said that Japan's "Silver Week" (September 13th-23rd) and South Korea's "Mid-Autumn Festival Holiday" (October 3rd-9th) are similar to or overlapping with China's National Day Mid-Autumn Festival Golden Week, and many Japanese and Korean tourists choose to visit China. Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong, Dalian, Qingdao and Tianjin are the main destinations to attract Japanese and Korean tourists.

In addition, the recent China-Russia mutual visa-free policy has also boosted the enthusiasm of Russian tourists to China.The number of Russian travelers entering the holiday has increased by 75%, and the preferred destinations for tourists include Beijing, Shanghai, Shaanxi, Guangzhou, Harbin and so on.

¡°There is both internationalization and diversity, so cool!¡±

¡°Here and the Western media describe exactly two worlds!¡± on October 6, blogger Dante Munio, from the United States, posted a video on his social platform about traveling to Xinjiang in China. As a long-lived content creator in New York, this holiday, he ran to Xinjiang on the recommendation of friends.

¡°The Western media always portrayed this place with negative colours, but what I saw and heard in China was the enthusiasm and desire of people for Xinjiang¡¯s multiculturalism.¡± Dante told the Global Times reporter that it was this strong contradiction that inspired his curiosity. When he first arrived in Kash, he was attracted by the decorations on the streets celebrating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, ¡°the intense ethnic sentiment and the festive atmosphere intertwined me instantly into the unique charm of this city.¡±

¡°This is my first day in Xinjiang, and everything here amazes me.¡± In the video, Dante stood in a place where he could look over the city of Kash. At seven o¡¯clock in the evening, the sunshine was still high, the winds of the desert swirled, and a layer of golden light was covered for this ancient city, and I had seen such a place from the future ¨C Kash¡¯s multicultural blend is shocking, so many different ethnic harmony coexist, it is so beautiful,¡± Dante told reporters.

Under his lens, Xinjiang girls in traditional costumes are dancing in front of the ancient city. In front of the juice stall on the street corner, Uighur businessmen are stuffing fresh pomegranates and grapes into the traditional copper juicer, turning the handle with both hands, and the bright red juice flows into the glass along the duct; Outside the handicraft shop not far away, old Kazakh people sit on ponies and weave wool tapestries...

In addition, Kashgar's delicious food also made him forget."We ate naan stuffed with mutton. The outer skin was roasted until golden and crispy. Every bite was full of meat aroma. Now I make my mouth drool when I think about it." The ancient city of Kashgar itself shocked him even more. This huge area is full of historically protected buildings, with shops connected to each other. Residents run small businesses in the historic neighborhood and live a leisurely and vibrant life. This scene is beautiful and vivid in his eyes.

¡°Some of the businessmen I¡¯ve met say I¡¯m the first American they¡¯ve ever met, which makes me realize that there¡¯s still a lot of stories here waiting to be seen by the outside world,¡± he told the Global Times reporter, ¡°it¡¯s praiseworthy for Xinjiang¡¯s development and cultural conservation,¡± ¡°there are both modern facilities and strong local characteristics.¡±

In addition to traditional folklore, Kashi¡¯s ¡°contradiction¡± also surprised Dante. The experience of celebrating his birthday at a local nightclub for fans also refreshed his perception of the city. I came from New York, and I thought it was the capital of nightlife, but Kashi was not bad!¡±Dante wondered. Young people danced with international pop music and national melodies, and this cultural shift surprised him: ¡°This city is both international and diversified, so cool!¡±

Dante's most unforgettable was a Uighur wedding he happened to participate in.I met a local guide in Xinjiang on the street, he learned that we wanted to experience local culture, immediately helped to contact a wedding, the owner enthusiastically invited us to participate. "in his description, the wedding scene is full of intense ethnic sentiment: colorful costumes, cheerful messianic dance, sweet guava and cuisine, "that culture's richness and thickness cannot be described in language, can only wait for my Vlog to cut out to see everyone in their own eyes!"

The journey is over, and Dante is still editing Kashgar's videos non-stop. "During this journey, I broadened my world view and saw a real, diverse and dynamic China." He has repeatedly emphasized to reporters that he has truly seen how tourism can benefit the business of local people, so he hopes to take this opportunity to appeal to more international tourists to come to Xinjiang. He sincerely said: "I hope to create more enthusiasm and expectations for Xinjiang tourism. Please come here for a walk in person. You will find that there are no prejudices or misunderstandings here, only enthusiastic people and splendid culture."