A foreigner takes part in a long-spout teapot pouring performance in Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan Province, on January 8, 2024. With a history of more than 1,000 years and combining tea art and Chinese kung fu, long-spout teapot pouring is one of the main tourist attractions in Sichuan. (Photo/VCG)

Chinese authority revealed data on Thursday that show the number of foreigners in China in 2023 has recovered to 85 percent and foreign visitors to 36 percent of 2019 levels. This comes as simplified border checks, expanded visa-free list and other measures facilitating traveling to and living in China have been implemented.  

Analysts are optimistic that this trend will continue throughout 2024 and increased exchanges will help the world to gain a better understanding of the real China and dispel any misperceptions. The efforts also demonstrate China's determination and commitment to high-quality opening-up. 

Immigration organs across China issued 711,000 resident permits for foreigners in 2023 and the number of foreign citizens living in China has recovered to 85 percent of 2019 levels, according to a press briefing of the National Immigration Administration (NIA). 

A total of 424 million inbound and outbound trips were made in 2023, recovering to 67 percent of 2019 levels. Among them, 206 million were made by mainland residents and 183 million by residents from the Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan regions. Some 35.5 million trips were made by foreigners, recovering to 36 percent of 2019 levels, per the press briefing.  

China also issued 1.7 million visas, up 158.3 percent year-on-year. 

Premier Li Qiang announced in Dublin on Wednesday that China will grant Ireland unilateral visa-free treatment, after the same policy was announced for Switzerland the previous day in Zurich. 

The two European countries just joined a handful of countries — France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia — whose citizens have been enjoying visa-free China visits since December 1, 2023. The policy immediately led to a 28.5 percent increase of inbound foreign travelers in December, compared with November. 

Other measures facilitating travels include simplified requirements and procedures for visa application, exemption of immigration procedures for 24-hour transitions at nine international airports. 

These measures conveyed a warm and clear message that China welcomes foreign people to come and explore China and understand the huge country in person to gain a firsthand experience of the country, Zhang Yiwu, a professor of Chinese language and literature from Peking University, told the Global Times. 

The more people see China with their own eyes, the less they will be misled by some media reports that slander China, Zhang said. 

The expert added that such measures also facilitate people who travel frequently between China and overseas, which is conducive to business and trade. 

Many foreign people have already enjoyed the convenience and some shared their experience and impression of China on social media. 

A Chinese-Malaysian surnamed Lee told the Global Times that she used to fly between Penang and Beijing/Shanghai twice a year before the pandemic. Even though she holds a multi-entry visa, it still takes a while to go through the customs procedures.

But now with visa-free entry, it is completely different. "It was so smooth and so efficient," Lee recalled her experience in Shanghai during the New Year's Day holidays.  

The mobile payment is also more foreigner-friendly after the two major tools, Alipay and Wechat Pay, can be connected to international cards, Lee said. 

Other common impressions shared on X, formerly Twitter, and Youtube include amazement at China's bullet trains, clean streets and tasty food. 

Youtubers behind "JetLag Warriors," a couple who first visited Shanghai via a transition visa-free policy which was resumed in 2023, issued a series of China tour videos to share their great experience of different cities and villages, including the diversity of food, the culture and the amazing sceneries.   

The introduction for their first video reads "we were told not to go to China and we felt a bit anxious and nervous. But China is not what we expected…" 

Then, their video released on January 13 was titled "why China will be the best travel destination for 2024." The introduction reads, "It [China] is so different from what is reported by Western media! There are many negative descriptions circulating online about China. However, China is modern, future-oriented, but also natural and traditional… Come to China to see the truth for yourself!"

Source: Global Times

Reporter: Zhang Han

Editor: Shao Wenyun