14.6 million from across world visit mainland during H1
"City or not city".
This nonsensical phrase has made a star out of a foreign vlogger living in China who has garnered 754,000 followers online as he documents his travels around the country.
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"Baoboaxiong", as he's known on Douyin — the Chinese version of TikTok — is from the United States and lives in Shanghai. He is one of many foreigners who has embraced travel in China, a trend that has grown as China continues to optimize its entry policies.
Since last year, China has taken steps to implement trial visa-free policies for travelers from dozens of countries, including European nations such as France and Germany.
Under the latest policies, people from the approved countries and regions holding ordinary passports are allowed to stay on the Chinese mainland for up to 15 days for purposes of transit, tourism, business trips or family trips.
China has also extended its 72- and 144-hour visa-free transit policy to 54 countries and nations, including the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
The National Immigration Administration said that these policies are bearing fruit, as the mainland received about 14.6 million visits by foreign travelers in the first half of the year, up 152.7 percent year-on-year. Of those visits, over half — 8.54 million — were made by travelers who didn't need visas to visit, a 190 percent increase year-on-year.
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Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a recent news conference that she was happy to see foreign travelers enjoying the sites and delicacies around China and experiencing the vibrancy of the country. She said that the ministry will continue simplifying entry procedures for foreign tourists so that they can travel more conveniently and comfortably in China.
