Foreign tourists flock to China for culture, scenic allure amid holiday visa boost

China’s upgraded visa policies are fueling a surge in foreign tourism during the eight-day National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, with international visitors flocking to cities such as Chongqing in southwest China to experience the country’s cultural richness and scenic allure.

Chongqing has emerged as a popular stop for overseas travelers in recent years due to its unique blend of culture, wallet-friendly consumption prices, and scenic charm.

Thanks to China’s 240-hour visa-free transit policy, overseas travelers are seizing the opportunity to explore the city.

“We’re actually really excited here because Chongqing isn’t well heard of yet in the Philippines,” said Mikhaela Angelika, a tourist from the Philippines.

“This is my first time in Chongqing, and I’m very impressed. I’ll definitely invite more people to visit. Chongqing is a modern city full of potential, with stunning scenery and rich culture,” said Soldatova Marina, a Russian tourist.

Other than Chongqing, cities all around China are attracting foreign tourists with distinctive tourist attractions and beautiful natural scenery.

“In Singapore, you don’t see this kind of place. So you come here and it’s really very different, really very nice to see: the fall, the mountain, the mysticism. This is the one that [gives me] a very good feeling,” said a Singaporean tourist visiting Shennongjia National Park in central China’s Hubei Province, known as one of China’s major biodiversity centers.

Foreign tourists also praised China’s advanced transportation network, including high-speed rail, air travel, and water routes for improving accessibility.

“It’s very easy to get here. We had very comfortable (experience on) the train. I took many, many trains around from Shanghai to Beijing. The train is very, very nice,” Naranjo Velduque Domingo, a Spanish tourist, said at the Mohan Railway port in southwest China’s Yunnan Province, after crossing the China-Laos border through railway.

This year, China’s National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday runs from Oct 1 to 8.

Typhoon Matmo, the 21st named storm of the 2025 Pacific typhoon season, has slammed into China’s coastal regions, unleashing powerful winds and heavy downpours.

The typhoon made its landfall along the eastern coast of Xuwen County, Zhanjiang City in south China’s Guangdong Province at around 14:50 on Sunday, with the maximum wind force near its center reaching 42 meters per second, and with a central minimum pressure of 965 hectopascals.

In the coastal town of Jinhe, situated along the eastern shoreline of Xuwen County, the wind speeds have reached gusts equivalent to level 14 on the Beaufort scale, causing metal sheets to be scattered around and trees to topple.

A nearby fishing port has experienced severe impact, with water and power supplies cut off and communication lines affected.

The storm’s center is expected to sweep the Leizhou Peninsula in south China later Sunday, bringing heavy rains and strong winds.

Local authorities have activated emergency response plans, urging residents to stay indoors, and reinforcing forecasts to prepare for ongoing severe weather.

The Haikou Meilan International Airport has canceled all flights and will gradually resume operations starting from 20:00 on Sunday.

Earlier on Saturday, authorities have activated a Level IV emergency response for flood control in Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi and Yunnan as Typhoon Matmo was forecast to bring heavy rainfall.

China has a four-tier emergency response system, with Level I being the most severe response, and a four-tier weather warning system, with red representing the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow and blue.