Weihai, a charming coastal city in east China's Shandong Province, has seen a surge of international tourists since China expanded its visa-free policies to include Japan and South Korea at the end of last year.
Just over one hour's flight away from South Korea, Weihai has become a hotspot for tourists from South Korea and Japan, making "visiting China after work on Friday" a popular trend.
"I came from Anyang in South Korea. Weihai is the closest city to South Korea. I have been to Weihai several times in summer before, and I really want to experience Weihai in winter," said Lee Jae-jin, a Korean tourist.
To handle this influx of international tourists, the local airport has collaborated with Customs and Immigration authorities to monitor incoming travelers and ensure smooth customs procedures.
Local tourism authorities have also introduced measures to facilitate payments for travelers from overseas and improve the overall tourist experience.
To date, the city has upgraded 557 POS machines and installed 783 ATM terminals across 14 banks.
Weihai has also added trilingual signage in Chinese, English, and Korean and bilingual guides at 47 top tourist spots.
Visa-free policies draw weekend tourists from nearby countries to China
