China-Spring Festival/Int'l Tourism
Shanghai, China - Recent (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Various of city view, Spring Festival decorations, lanterns
2. Various of international passengers at airport
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Kilian Johannes, German visitor (starting with shot 2):
"I have a friend who studies here in China. Now I'm visiting him because he studies here for one year. I looked at which time to visit him and then I saw there's Chinese New Year, so I decided to come at this week."
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Gabriel Pablo, Chilean visitor (partially overlaid with shot 5):
"I just chose China for visiting for the new year. I'm excited. I'm staying here for 10 days. I think it's pretty friendly just right now, so I'm very happy."
++SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++
5. Arriving passengers at airport
++SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++
6. Various of passengers at airport, decorations
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Mario Alexander Ulrich, German visitor (partially overlaid with shot 8):
"Shanghai is a very popular city and visit the city and see the destination. Visa process is very easy and very convenient."
++SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++
8. Various of passengers at airport
++SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++
Chongqing Municipality, southwest China - Recent (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
9. Various of city view, decorations
Harbin City, Heilongjiang Province, northeast China - Recent (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
10. Various of city view, Spring Festival decorations, fair
Wuzhen Town, Tongxiang City, Zhejiang Province, east China - Recent (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
11. Various of diners eating hotpot
12. Aerial shot of city view, celebration in progress
China's Spring Festival has sparked a surge in inbound tourism this year, driven by expanded visa-free access and rising international demand for traditional Chinese cultural experiences.
The Spring Festival, which marks the start of the Chinese New Year, sees the world's largest annual human migration as hundreds of millions travel domestically for family reunions and holidaymaking. Increasingly, however, China is welcoming foreign travelers during the period.
The country's major travel platforms have reported a sharp spike in inbound bookings as the Year of the Horse kicks off, with more overseas travelers choosing to celebrate the festival in person. In the past two weeks alone, flight reservations from Thailand, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam and Singapore have jumped by more than 400 percent year on year.
This growth trend is also evident beyond Asia. Bookings from Argentina have increased ninefold, while several European countries have recorded growth of more than 200 percent, highlighting the widening global appeal of the Chinese New Year.
"I have a friend who studies here in China. Now I'm visiting him because he studies here for one year. I looked at which time to visit him and then I saw there's Chinese New Year, so I decided to come at this week," said Kilian Johannes, a visitor from Germany.
"I just chose China for visiting for the new year. I'm excited. I'm staying here for 10 days. I think it's pretty friendly just right now, so I'm very happy," said a visitor from Chile, Gabriel Pablo.
In 2025, China expanded unilateral visa-free access to 48 countries and mutual visa exemptions to 29 countries, significantly facilitating last-minute travel plans. Many arriving passengers were impressed with the smooth entry processes.
"Shanghai is a very popular city and visit the city and see the destination. Visa process is very easy and very convenient," said Mario Alexander Ulrich, another visitor from Germany, which currently enjoys visa-free status for entry into China.
Tour operators have noted that "Chinese New Year experience tours" are becoming one of the most sought-after packages this season, as inbound tourism shifts from traditional sightseeing toward deeper cultural immersion. Major cities such as Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou rank among the top destinations for international tourists seeking to experience the festive atmosphere.
In Shanghai, more than 2,500 themed events have been launched, from lantern displays and folk customs to river cruises, creating an immersive holiday experience for both domestic and overseas visitors.
Meanwhile, culturally distinctive destinations are also gaining popularity. Southwest China's Chongqing attracts travelers with its unique urban landscape and cuisine, while the chilly northern city of Harbin draws crowds with its renowned ice and snow tourism offerings.
Chinese culture is increasingly resonating with young audiences worldwide. The viral "Becoming Chinese" trend highlights a growing appetite for authentic cultural experiences, from festive cuisine to bustling temple fairs. With more favorable travel policies and growing curiosity about traditional festivities, inbound tourism during the Spring Festival is entering a new stage of expansion driven by both accessibility and cultural connection.
China-Spring Festival/Int'l Tourism
Dateline : Recent
Location : China
Duration : 1'44
Shanghai, China - Recent (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Various of city view, Spring Festival decorations, lanterns
2. Various of international passengers at airport
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Kilian Johannes, German visitor (starting with shot 2):
"I have a friend who studies here in China. Now I'm visiting him because he studies here for one year. I looked at which time to visit him and then I saw there's Chinese New Year, so I decided to come at this week."
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Gabriel Pablo, Chilean visitor (partially overlaid with shot 5):
"I just chose China for visiting for the new year. I'm excited. I'm staying here for 10 days. I think it's pretty friendly just right now, so I'm very happy."
++SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++
5. Arriving passengers at airport
++SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++
6. Various of passengers at airport, decorations
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Mario Alexander Ulrich, German visitor (partially overlaid with shot 8):
"Shanghai is a very popular city and visit the city and see the destination. Visa process is very easy and very convenient."
++SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++
8. Various of passengers at airport
++SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++
Chongqing Municipality, southwest China - Recent (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
9. Various of city view, decorations
Harbin City, Heilongjiang Province, northeast China - Recent (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
10. Various of city view, Spring Festival decorations, fair
Wuzhen Town, Tongxiang City, Zhejiang Province, east China - Recent (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
11. Various of diners eating hotpot
12. Aerial shot of city view, celebration in progress
China's Spring Festival has sparked a surge in inbound tourism this year, driven by expanded visa-free access and rising international demand for traditional Chinese cultural experiences.
The Spring Festival, which marks the start of the Chinese New Year, sees the world's largest annual human migration as hundreds of millions travel domestically for family reunions and holidaymaking. Increasingly, however, China is welcoming foreign travelers during the period.
The country's major travel platforms have reported a sharp spike in inbound bookings as the Year of the Horse kicks off, with more overseas travelers choosing to celebrate the festival in person. In the past two weeks alone, flight reservations from Thailand, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam and Singapore have jumped by more than 400 percent year on year.
This growth trend is also evident beyond Asia. Bookings from Argentina have increased ninefold, while several European countries have recorded growth of more than 200 percent, highlighting the widening global appeal of the Chinese New Year.
"I have a friend who studies here in China. Now I'm visiting him because he studies here for one year. I looked at which time to visit him and then I saw there's Chinese New Year, so I decided to come at this week," said Kilian Johannes, a visitor from Germany.
"I just chose China for visiting for the new year. I'm excited. I'm staying here for 10 days. I think it's pretty friendly just right now, so I'm very happy," said a visitor from Chile, Gabriel Pablo.
In 2025, China expanded unilateral visa-free access to 48 countries and mutual visa exemptions to 29 countries, significantly facilitating last-minute travel plans. Many arriving passengers were impressed with the smooth entry processes.
"Shanghai is a very popular city and visit the city and see the destination. Visa process is very easy and very convenient," said Mario Alexander Ulrich, another visitor from Germany, which currently enjoys visa-free status for entry into China.
Tour operators have noted that "Chinese New Year experience tours" are becoming one of the most sought-after packages this season, as inbound tourism shifts from traditional sightseeing toward deeper cultural immersion. Major cities such as Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou rank among the top destinations for international tourists seeking to experience the festive atmosphere.
In Shanghai, more than 2,500 themed events have been launched, from lantern displays and folk customs to river cruises, creating an immersive holiday experience for both domestic and overseas visitors.
Meanwhile, culturally distinctive destinations are also gaining popularity. Southwest China's Chongqing attracts travelers with its unique urban landscape and cuisine, while the chilly northern city of Harbin draws crowds with its renowned ice and snow tourism offerings.
Chinese culture is increasingly resonating with young audiences worldwide. The viral "Becoming Chinese" trend highlights a growing appetite for authentic cultural experiences, from festive cuisine to bustling temple fairs. With more favorable travel policies and growing curiosity about traditional festivities, inbound tourism during the Spring Festival is entering a new stage of expansion driven by both accessibility and cultural connection.
ID : 8467160
Published : 2026-02-23 13:23
Last Modified : 2026-02-23 20:19:34
Source : China Central Television (CCTV)
Restrictions : No access Chinese mainland
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