BEIJING, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) — China is embracing a tourism growth throughout the upcoming eight-day Spring Competition (Chinese language New Yr) vacation, in response to knowledge from a number of home on-line journey platforms.
The Spring Competition, falling on Feb. 10 this yr, is the largest event for household reunions and heralds the start of spring. China’s vacationer spots, with numerous ice-and-snow actions, enchanting tropical surroundings, wealthy people tradition and delectable delicacies, have turn into more and more common amongst foreigners lately.
Actors carry out a hearth dragon dance in a bathe of molten iron on the Volga Manor in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, Jan. 29, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao)
The nation applied a visa-free coverage for odd passport holders from some nations final yr. It has additionally rolled out a set of measures to facilitate the entry of international nationals for enterprise, training and tourism earlier this month, additional selling the inbound journey spree throughout the vacation.
In mid-January, a report on the 2024 Spring Competition journey market forecast launched by China’s main on-line journey company Journey.com confirmed that inbound journey orders throughout the vacation skyrocketed greater than 10 instances yr on yr. The orders primarily come from nations together with Japan, the USA, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Australia, the UK, Canada, Vietnam, Germany, and Thailand.
Which sights are price exploring in China throughout the competition? What ought to international guests take note of whereas touring throughout the nation? Beneath are some tour suggestions and ideas.
PLACES FEATURING WINTER ACTIVITIES
Winter sports activities actions have turn into more and more common in China ever for the reason that 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. The “ice metropolis” Harbin within the northernmost Heilongjiang Province is arguably the highest trending vacation spot for each home and abroad vacationers this winter.
Guests watch a firework present throughout the opening ceremony of the fortieth Harbin Worldwide Ice and Snow Competition on the Harbin Ice-Snow World in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, Jan. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei)
A go to to the Harbin Ice-Snow World, a famend theme park, is often high on vacationers’ itineraries. With over a thousand frozen scenes, together with charming depictions of the Yr of the Dragon, the park additionally gives a spread of leisure actions like ice biking, snowmobiling and exhilarating ice slides. Remember to grab the chance to marvel at a panoramic view of the icy wonderland from the towering 400-foot-tall Ferris wheel.
Winter sports activities fanatics can also take into account embarking on a three-hour practice trip from Harbin to Changbai Mountain within the adjoining Jilin Province. This area hosts a number of top-notch ski resorts, providing a haven for snowboarding fanatics. Positioned at 42 levels north latitude, Changbai Mountain boasts considerable powder snow, offering an optimum playground for freeskiers. Past the fun of winter sports activities, the breathtaking Tianchi crater lake stands as a exceptional scenic attraction nestled amid snow-draped mountains. For added pleasure, guests can interact within the exhilarating expertise of canyon rafting to boost their general enjoyment.
This photograph taken on Nov. 25, 2023 exhibits folks having fun with winter sports activities at Lake Songhua Resort in Jilin Metropolis, northeast China’s Jilin Province. (Xinua/Xu Chang)
Located within the east of Jilin, the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture, roughly 200 km from Changbai Mountain, may very well be one other compelling vacation spot for this yr’s Spring Competition journey. The prefecture is at the moment showcasing a lantern competition that includes Korean people customs, including a singular cultural contact to the festivities. Yanbian stands out amongst international ice and snow tourism locations resulting from distinctive actions like “Snow Home Sizzling Pot” and “Snowfield Sizzling Springs.”
Jilin has adopted 27 coverage measures, together with ticket reductions and vacationer vouchers, to supply a seamless expertise for guests.
REMARKABLE SCENIC BEAUTY
The tropical coastal metropolis of Sanya, positioned in south China’s Hainan Province, has constantly captivated guests with its breathtaking sea views and ample sunshine. It proves significantly engaging for these in search of respite from the chilly winter. Advisable actions for international vacationers embody sunbathing on the coast whereas relishing the sundown, participating in underwater adventures like diving, and strolling alongside the skywalk within the tropical forest to inhale the recent, invigorating air.
An aerial drone photograph taken on Oct. 1, 2023 exhibits vacationers going crusing in Sanya, south China’s Hainan Province. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)
Sanya is anticipated to host quite a few thrilling occasions throughout the Spring Competition, equivalent to an artwork present integrating pop artwork with conventional dragon dance, drone exhibits, mild exhibits and a beer competition.
Turning to Kunming, capital of southwest China’s Yunnan Province, this “Spring Metropolis” famend for its balmy climate is a superb vacation spot for nature fanatics. Nestled amidst the embrace of mountains on three sides and graced by the shimmering Dianchi Lake on the opposite, town greets winter with the arrival of black-headed gulls, a migratory chicken species flying in from Russia’s Siberian area. Right here, vacationer sights like stone forests and karst landforms additionally await exploration and discovery.
The traditional metropolis of Pingyao in north China’s Shanxi Province stands as a best choice for historical past fanatics, boasting over 2,700 years of wealthy historical past and famend for its impeccably preserved historic structure. Throughout the annual Spring Competition occasions in Pingyao, guests have the chance to don conventional costumes and partake in festive celebrations. Strolling by the streets and pavilions adorned in conventional Chinese language kinds, illuminated by golden lights and pink lanterns, guests can relish a charming glimpse of town’s cultural heritage.
Vacationers go to Pingyao historic metropolis amid falling snow in north China’s Shanxi Province, Dec. 14, 2023. (Photograph by Liang Shengren/Xinhua)
PLACES FEATURING UNIQUE CUSTOMS
For vacationers deeply eager about Chinese language people tradition, attending temple gala’s throughout the Spring Competition is a must-try expertise. Thought to be a vibrant cultural feast, these gala’s are common throughout the nation, significantly in north China. In the case of the festive ambiance, a few of the liveliest temple gala’s are held within the Chinese language capital Beijing, notably at Ditan Park and Longtan Park. Right here, guests can immerse themselves in conventional lantern exhibits, take pleasure in native delicacies and expertise the appeal of conventional Chinese language crafts.
Down within the south, Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong Province, is famend for its vibrant lion and dragon dances, including a festive spirit to the celebrations. Throughout the 2024 Spring Competition vacation, the metropolis is ready to host occasions equivalent to dragon and lion dance parades. Notably noteworthy is the fireworks show scheduled for the primary day of the Spring Competition.
Folks go to the Yuyuan Backyard lantern honest in Shanghai, east China, Jan. 21, 2024. (Xinhua/Liu Ying)
As for Spring Competition traditions, lantern exhibits are indispensable. The lantern present in Yuyuan Backyard in Shanghai, which began on Jan. 21 and can proceed till the top of February, marks the beginning of month-long celebrations for the upcoming Spring Competition and the next Lantern Competition. Enchanting scenes, together with the zodiac dragon lantern, promise to immerse guests in a splendid conventional Chinese language ambiance.
DELECTABLE CUISINE
A visit to Beijing could be incomplete with out a go to to the Nice Wall, simply as it could be incomplete with out savoring Beijing Roast Duck, also referred to as Peking Duck. Typically hailed as “the primary dish to strive in China,” this iconic dish, with its lengthy historical past and former standing as a royal delicacy, guarantees international vacationers a legendary style and a memorable eating expertise.
The Beijing Qianmen department of Quanjude, certainly one of China’s best-known roast duck chain eating places, may very well be a most popular alternative for having fun with the roast duck. Positioned at Qianmen, which has been a bustling industrial district for the reason that Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the department is commonly so crowded that foodies fascinated by its status have to face in lengthy strains.
Nonetheless, Beijing delicacies affords rather more than simply that. After eating at Quanjude, guests can proceed to discover the Qianmen industrial district, which exudes a festive ambiance of pleasure and auspiciousness throughout the Spring Competition. Native delicacies, significantly at a restaurant referred to as Donglaishun, identified for its specialty — instant-boiled mutton, a conventional sizzling pot dish — shouldn’t be missed.
Lately, Chinese language dishes that includes spicy and mouth-numbing flavors, generally known as “mala,” have gained recognition, significantly in Southeast Asia. For international vacationers who take pleasure in spicy sizzling pot, it’s advisable to hunt probably the most genuine delicacies in southwest China’s Sichuan Province and Chongqing Municipality, each famend for his or her spicy choices, with eating places serving such dishes scattered all through these areas.
As one of many 4 main Chinese language cuisines, Cantonese delicacies, or Guangdong delicacies, has continued to impress international meals fanatics with its pleasant freshness, making it a great alternative for foreigners who admire a light-weight style. Delicacies equivalent to dim sum, boiled shrimp, roast goose, bite-sized wontons and steamed spareribs with pickled plums are certain to tantalize the style buds of diners. Vacationers can indulge on this delicacies when exploring the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Higher Bay Space, making it a becoming alternative for winter excursions.
TIPS FOR CONVENIENT TRAVEL
1. Use the Journey.com app or Qunar.com app for hassle-free bookings of group excursions, airline and railway tickets, lodges, and numerous performances. For help, vacationers can contact the client helpline.
2. Discover a plethora of eating choices with useful critiques on Meituan and Dianping apps, China’s main on-line platforms, protecting all the pieces from upscale eating places to hidden gems.
3. Navigate China confidently with the Baidu Map cellular app, which may also be used to hail cabs, much like Didi, a outstanding ride-hailing service within the nation.
4. Make funds with ease by Alipay and WeChat Pay, China’s main on-line cost service suppliers that now settle for worldwide financial institution playing cards.
5. To keep away from peak journey instances, plan your journey for the center interval of the vacation. Examine the opening hours of scenic spots and eating places throughout the competition to keep away from any potential closures.
(Reporting by Cui Enhui, Jiang Wenxi, Shao Meiqi, Huang Yaoman, Si Xiaoshuai)
(Internet editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
