Editor’s Observe: The Chinese language individuals are making ready to welcome the Yr of the Dragon as Chinese language New Yr approaches. Worldwide guests to China can anticipate to expertise a spectrum of cherished traditions and distinctive hospitality. Following the implementation of latest visa exemption laws, the Ministry of Overseas Affairs will additional optimize visa insurance policies to encourage private exchanges between China and overseas nations.
This picture taken on Nov. 6, 2023 reveals the autumn surroundings of the Huangyaguan Nice Wall in Jizhou District of Tianjin, north China. (Xinhua/Solar Fanyue)
On January 15, 2024, China introduced the applying of a unilateral visa-free coverage to Switzerland, and the Swiss aspect will present visa facilitation for Chinese language residents and Chinese language corporations investing in Switzerland.
Ranging from November 2023, China has issued a number of new visa insurance policies to facilitate overseas vacationers to go to the nation. In late November 2023, China issued a visa-free coverage of as much as 15 days for unusual passport holders from six nations: France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia.
Efficient Dec. 1, 2023, the visa-free coverage can be accessible till Nov. 30, 2024. The coverage expands current visa-free insurance policies for overseas residents and has attracted extra vacationers from policy-related nations to go to China. Based on the Nationwide Immigration Administration, in December 2023, China recorded 214,000 inbound visits from the six nations, a sequential enhance of 28.5 %. Of those, 118,000 had been visa-free visits, accounting for 55.1 % of whole visits.
China’s new visa insurance policies have been warmly welcomed by different nations and have prompted new bilateral visa agreements. Following the brand new coverage’s issuance, Malaysia launched a 30-day visa-free coverage for Chinese language residents. In early December, China and Singapore introduced plans to implement a reciprocal 30-day visa exemption coverage for residents of each nations.
To simplify future journey to China for vacationers worldwide, Individuals’s Every day On-line has compiled an inventory of journey suggestions.
Dubbed the world’s eighth historical surprise, the Terracotta Military is a group of life-sized sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shihuang, China’s first emperor. (Picture by Liu Ning)
Ideas for visiting China
Based on knowledge from June 2023, China is residence to almost 1.1 billion netizens, accounting for 76.4 % of the inhabitants. With a quickly growing variety of web customers and a booming e-payment and on-line buying trade, the nation provides an in depth community of on-line companies for primary wants.
Vacationers visiting China are suggested to buy a Chinese language SIM card. Having an area telephone quantity is essential in China, as many important companies require telephone verification codes. This contains on-line funds, journey suggestions, meals supply, and on a regular basis transportation companies.
This picture taken on July 5, 2023 reveals the check prepare 55301 earlier than departing from Guiyang North Station in Guiyang, southwest China’s Guizhou Province. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)
Cashless funds:
Cashless funds are extensively accepted in Chinese language society. Most transactions are carried out by means of WeChat Pay and Alipay. WeChat Pay is part of the social media platform WeChat, whereas Alipay is extra generally used for e-commerce orders, transportation and charge funds.
Journey advice apps:
Meituan (美团), together with its subsidiary Dianping (大众点评), serves as a complete information app for guests in search of each common and lesser-known locations. They characteristic a scoring system that helps determine enticing touring spots.
Xiaohongshu (小红书) is a social media platform the place vacationers usually share customized sightseeing experiences, together with particular highlights of vacationer sights, journey route suggestions, and time administration suggestions.
Eating places and meals supply apps:
Meituan and Dianping provide particular offers and combo menus in lots of eating places. Their ranking programs present suggestions, comparable in perform to Yelp within the Western world. Meituan additionally provides meals supply companies.
Ele.me (饿了么), owned by Alibaba, is one other meals supply app that provides varied coupons and bonuses, offering a substitute for Meituan.
Transportation:
Metro/Subway and buses: Along with native apps, WeChat and Alipay provide QR codes for native bus routes and subways. Passengers can scan their QR code at subway stations or on buses.
Shared bikes: Riders can e book shared bikes by means of Meituan and Alipay. Meituan’s bikes are painted brilliant yellow, whereas Alipay’s are blue and white.
Taxi and car-hailing companies: Taxis and car-hailing companies can primarily be booked by means of three apps: Amap (高德地图), Meituan and Didi (滴滴).
Picture taken on Oct. 9, 2021 reveals designated parking zones for shared bikes and mopeds in Hohhot, north China’s Internal Mongolia Autonomous Area. (Individuals’s Every day On-line/Ding Genhou)
Social media:
The most well-liked social media websites in China embrace WeChat (微信), QQ, and Sina Weibo (新浪微博). WeChat and QQ, each created by Chinese language digital big Tencent, are primarily messaging apps that permit customers to remain in contact with pals or enterprise companions. These platforms facilitate the simple sharing of images and data. Weibo is extra like Threads or X, conserving customers up to date on trending subjects in China or the pursuits of their followers.
(Internet editor: Tian Yi, Wu Chengliang)
