BEIJING, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- It has been an exciting year for globetrotters as travel to and around China has never been easier. Whether wandering the willow-lined moat of Beijing's Forbidden City, marveling at the towering natural pillars of Zhangjiajie that inspired Avatar or immersing themselves in the urban cyberpunk vibe of Chongqing, travelers are enjoying a new wave of discovery and cultural connection unseen in years.

This surge in travel is largely attributed to China's updated visa policies, particularly the expansion of visa exemptions introduced a year ago to boost global mobility after the pandemic. Starting on Dec. 1, 2023, visitors from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia could enter visa-free for up to 15 days for business, tourism, family visits, or transit -- without requiring reciprocal agreements. And the policy updates have kept coming.

To date, with 38 countries now enjoying unilateral visa-free access, the opportunity for meaningful exchanges and visits has expanded, and the maximum stay has been doubled to 30 days as of Nov. 30. International travel to China has surged. In the third quarter of 2024, inbound trips by foreign nationals exceeded 8.1 million, an increase of 48.8 percent year on year. More than 4.8 million of them, or 59 percent, were under the expanded visa-waiver program.

While many visitors marvel at iconic landmarks and gleaming symbols of economic success in cities like Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, a growing number are venturing beyond the typical to explore local traditions and everyday life. Local guides and tour operators are catering to these curious travelers with more immersive experiences.

COMMITMENT TO OPENING UP

Experts have lauded China for its confidence, openness and inclusiveness in its recent push for unilateral visa exemptions. "It sends a message that the world's second-largest economy is determined to open wider to the world," said Yang Mingjie, president of the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations. They noted the cascade effects of visa-free policies, saying these initiatives could potentially facilitate freer flows of trade, transport, capital and information across borders, enhancing global economic connectivity.

In a sign of greater financial opening up, China has made mobile payments more accessible for foreigners. Travelers can now link Visa, Mastercard and other major credit cards to local platforms like Alipay and WeChat Pay. In October alone, offline transactions made with foreign bank cards jumped by 184 percent from February, with their total value rising by 150 percent.

The expanded visa waivers have been met with enthusiasm. During his visit to the country in November, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico described the development as a significant boon for young people and entrepreneurs in his country.

Meanwhile, countries like France, Switzerland and Hungary have eased or planned to ease visa requirements for Chinese nationals. Ireland has welcomed Chinese investment, while Singapore extended visa-free access to Chinese travelers earlier this year -- a move analysts say reflects strong confidence in China.

On Nov. 8, the first day the Republic of Korea's visa-free status took effect, over 200 Koreans landed in Hangzhou, the home of e-commerce giant Alibaba. A businessman surnamed Jeong credited the policy for making it easier to explore business opportunities in Yiwu, known as the "world's supermarket" for small commodities.

BRIDGING INFORMATION GAP

One of the critical things that prevent more Westerners from visiting China is a lack of information, according to Clayton Boylan, senior business manager at the World Tourism Cities Federation. He noted that many Americans still view China through a lens frozen in the 1960s and 1970s.

Thanks to recent visa policy shifts, videos shot on the ground in China have begun to challenge that perception on platforms like YouTube, TikTok and X, revealing a country that contrasts sharply with what Western media has long portrayed.

Many first-time travelers leave China bewildered by how such a vast country of over 1.4 billion people can be so efficient; from hailing cabs to punctual trains. They are also surprised by the cleanliness of the streets and public transport, despite the constant hustle and bustle of large crowds.

As snow blankets the blue lakes in Jiuzhaigou, transforming them into a winter wonderland, construction of snow and ice sculptures begins in a 1 million square-meter park in Harbin, one thing is clear: no matter the season, sometimes all it takes to escape the ordinary is a single ticket to China.