China's visa-free policies boost cultural tourism, with Kung Fu leading the way for global visitors

China's expanded visa-free policies have sparked interest among international travelers for traditional Chinese culture and fueled a surge in local cultural tourism.

In the first 11 months of 2024, China welcomed 29.218 million foreign visitors, with 17.446 million entering visa-free, up 123.3 percent year-on-year.

This surge is leading to a growing demand for immersive cultural experiences. China, home to 1,557 nationally recognized intangible cultural heritage items, offers them opportunities to explore these traditions.

In Quanzhou City, east China's Fujian Province, string puppet show has been a popular attraction for international visitors.

"The plate spinners and the puppet that balances the jug on their head, the lion dance and the ribbon dance also. I like seeing these things," said an American visitor.

"I think it's very interesting. I've never seen a doll like this before. And I think it's a very imaginative way. See what the culture sort of outfits were like. I really like it," said an Indonesian student participating in a doll clothes-making workshop

A survey by the China Tourism Academy revealed that over 60 percent of respondents cited experiencing Chinese culture as their primary reason for visiting. World Heritage sites, the four ancient capitals, and intangible cultural heritage items like paper cutting, flower headband, and shadow puppetry are proving to be major draws for international tourists.

Shaolin Kung Fu, one of the most famous traditional martial arts in China, is a globally recognized symbol of Chinese culture. The Shaolin Temple in Quanzhou has seen an influx of international visitors eager to witness and learn this martial art.

"Because martial arts transcend borders. It's a body language understood worldwide," said Li Gang, head coach of Quanzhou Shaolin Temple Warrior Monks Troupe.

Eros, an Italian living in the city for nearly a decade, is a devoted Shaolin Kung Fu enthusiast. He attends performances every month and shared photos on social media to share the moment with his family and friends.

Thanks to the visa-free policy implemented for Italians by the end of 2023, Eros's mother and friends were finally able to visit him and experience Chinese culture.

"If you watch the show, you can just feel the power, the energy. I needed to send my passport for my visa to Chinese consulate. So, you need to plan in this one month before. You don't need to follow this rule now. And you can easily come to visit China," he shared.

China's visa-free policies boost cultural tourism, with Kung Fu leading the way for global visitors

The sales revenue of consumer goods under the policy-backed trade-in program in 2024 surpassed 15.91 billion yuan (about 2.17 billion U.S. dollars) in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, according to data from the Xinjiang Regional Commerce Department.

In a significant push to stimulate consumer spending, China rolled out an expansive trade-in policy across multiple sectors earlier last year. From automobiles and home appliances to real estate, the initiative aims to encourage the replacement of outdated goods with newer and more advanced options.

Over the past year, customers in Xinjiang enjoyed a total subsidy of 1.93 billion yuan (about 263.78 million U.S. dollars) under the trade-in policy for buying products such as cars, home appliances, bathroom and kitchen products and electric bicycles.

Data from the Xinjiang Regional Commerce Department show that by the end of 2024, a total of 90,000 vehicle trade-in applications had been submitted across the region. Under the trade-in program, the sales of home appliances reached 466,000 units, sales of bathroom and kitchen products reached 93,700 items and the sales of electric bicycles reached 33,200 units.

"I received a subsidy of over 900 yuan (about 123 U.S. dollars) when I bought a 4,000-yuan (about 546 U.S. dollar) refrigerator. Now, I'm planning to buy a new fridge for my parents," said Yao Shujun, a local resident.

The Regional Commerce Department has announced that the trade-in subsidy policies will be extended in 2025 in an effort to boost consumption.

Trade-in program boosts consumption in northwest China's Xinjiang