American tourist Ethan White holds a festive poster at a fair in Dali, Yunnan province on Jan. 22, 2025. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]
American tourist Ethan White immersed himself in the vibrant traditions of the Chinese New Year in Dali city, southwestern China's Yunnan province. He explored one of the most significant market fairs of the local Bai ethnic group, and learned to play a traditional zither piece celebrating the holiday. He also visited local households, learning firsthand how ethnic minorities celebrate the Spring Festival.
He was one of the countless foreign tourists who experienced China’s most important holiday of the year. During the eight-day holiday, a total of 958,000 cross-border trips were made by foreign visitors, marking an increase of 22.9% year on year, according to the National Immigration Administration.
A key factor driving this surge has been China's expanded visa-free policies, which allow eligible travelers from 54 countries to transit through China for up to 240 hours without a visa.
"Among the top 10 inbound tourist sources, Japan and South Korea ranked at the top," said Liu Xiangyan, an associate researcher at the China Tourism Academy. "The deep cultural connections to the Spring Festival within the East Asian region, coupled with visa-free policies, explain their strong presence."