STORY: Spring Festival and new visa policy attract int'l visitors to China
SHOOTING TIME: Recent footage
DATELINE: Jan. 29, 2025
LENGTH: 00:01:30
LOCATION: Beijing
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of festive activities
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): ALYSSA LEE, Malaysian tourist
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Japanese): ATARA SHIMADA, Japanese tourist
4. various of festive activities
5. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): KIM MINI, South Korean tourist
6. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): FAWAZ ALSHURAIM, Saudi Arabian tourist
7. SOUNDBITE 5 (Japanese): MIYUKI FURUKAWA, Japanese tourist
8. SOUNDBITE 6 (English): Foreign tourists
9. various of festive activities

STORYLINE:

This year's Spring Festival has seen a surge in international tourists visiting China to experience the country's most important holiday.

This increase follows the introduction of an expanded visa-free transit policy, which allows eligible foreign travelers to stay in China for 240 hours without a visa.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): ALYSSA LEE, Malaysian tourist
"Because of the visa (policy), I just booked my flight like 2 weeks ago. And I can just travel here without having to apply (for) all the visa."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Japanese): ATARA SHIMADA, Japanese tourist
"It was not so easy to travel here because of the visa requirements, but now that I don't need one, it's much easier to come."

This Spring Festival is the first since UNESCO inscribed the festival on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Many international tourists are eager to experience the rich cultural traditions and festive atmosphere firsthand.

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): KIM MINI, South Korean tourist
"When we saw the red lanterns, we can feel the warm atmosphere."

SOUNDBITE 4 (English): FAWAZ ALSHURAIM, Saudi Arabian tourist
"The color is like the main Chinese color, which is red. I haven't seen anything like this before. So why not try it (papercut portrait)?"

SOUNDBITE 5 (Japanese): MIYUKI FURUKAWA, Japanese tourist
"I saw traditional decorations like 'fu' (happiness) symbols and other festive ornaments."

SOUNDBITE 6 (English): Foreign tourists
"We are sightseeing and learning about the Chinese culture. Honestly, I love the culture and the organization of everything.
We're enjoying and I will come back definitely."

A report released by Chinese online travel service provider Trip.com Group shows that the volume of Chinese New Year travel bookings from foreign tourists grew by 203 percent compared to the same period last year.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beijing.
(XHTV)