AS China kicked off the five-day May Day holiday, a growing number of foreign tourists are traveling to the country not just to see the Great Wall or shop in fashionable malls, but to soak in 24-hour bathhouses, try traditional Chinese medicine treatments, and savor late-night hotpot in pajamas inside urban spas — a sign that experiencing everyday Chinese life has become a major draw for international tourists.
China is set to see a surge in cross-border travel during the holiday, with inbound and outbound passenger flows expected to average 2.25 million and peak at more than 2.4 million in a single day, the National Immigration Administration said. Beijing has already seen over 2.28 million foreign entries and exits this year, up 34 per cent year-on-year, reflecting sustained growth in inbound tourism.
Driving this wave are a growing number of international travellers, who are shifting from “travelling in China” and “shopping in China” to an all-around experience of local life, according to Dai Bin, president of the China Tourism Academy.
“‘Becoming Chinese’ has become a buzzword on overseas social media platforms,” Dai told Xinhua in a recent interview. — Xinhua
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