The Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal welcomed a record number of foreign tourists on Sunday as two large international cruise ships docked at the port.
The ships -- AIDAstella of AIDA Cruises and Spectrum of the Seas, operated by Royal Caribbean International -- brought nearly 4,800 foreign tourists to the east China metropolis, marking the highest single-day arrival of international visitors since the terminal opened in 2011.
AIDAstella made its maiden call at the terminal on Sunday. Operated by AIDA Cruises, which primarily serves European markets, the ship is carrying approximately 2,200 foreign tourists -- mainly from Germany and Poland -- on a 14-day voyage that departs from Bangkok and includes stops in Vietnam, Japan, and China's Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Shanghai.
Spectrum of the Seas, which operates out of Wusongkou as its home port, is carrying about 2,600 foreign tourists on this cruise.
"It's our first time here in Shanghai, and we're curious to see the modern city, and the kindness of the people," said Vanessa, a German tourist.
According to local immigration officials, nearly a third of arriving visitors applied for 240-hour visa-free transit, while around 60 percent entered China under the unilateral visa-free policy.
"I have to say that the visa-free policy is what makes travel easy and fast. Especially our passengers -- they like to explore the country, they like to get to know everyone and the culture -- so they will all be ready on the gangway in the morning, and it’s very easy if we don't have to apply for a visa," said Jan Peter Lindner, captain of AIDAstella.
Shanghai is one of the major ports through which international travelers enter China.
Many of these visitors continue on to neighboring provinces.
"I was curious about the Chinese culture, and I wanted to know how people live their lives over the years. I'm really happy to be here," said Malik, a Pakistani tourist in east China's Zhejiang Province.
China's visa exemption policy was launched in December 2023 and has been extended several times since.
Currently, it allows passport holders from 38 countries to visit China for up to 30 days without a visa.
In 2024, more than 20 million inbound foreign trips to China were made visa-free -- more than double the number from the previous year.
Shanghai sees record single-day arrival of foreign tourists via cruise ships
China's Anti-Secession Law has generated powerful deterrence to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, experts from Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao have said when commenting on the implementation of the Anti-Session Law since its enactment 20 years ago.
Two decades ago, China's national legislature, the National People's Congress, voted to adopt the Anti-Secession Law with an overwhelming majority.
It was a milestone event in mainland-Taiwan relations as the law embodies both the will of the state and the common interests of Chinese people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, and codifies the fundamental policy to foil Taiwan secessionism and advance national reunification.
"Over the past 20 years since the enactment of the Anti-Secession Law, the legislation has helped build a legal basis for the rule of law governing cross-Strait relations. The law makes it clear that pursuing Taiwan secessionism is illegal. Over the past two decades, it has had a direct and significant deterrent effect to 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces," said Yu Tzu-Hsiang, a professor of Shih Hsin University in Taiwan.
The law also clearly draws a legally-binding red line, stipulating the use of force to foil separatist forces and their activities seeking Taiwan secessionism if such a red line is breached.
"Over the past 20 years, the Anti-Secession Law has played a crucial role in curbing and countering Taiwan separatist forces. Like a sharp sword hanging over the heads of secessionists, the law instills deep fear in them, making them feel the weight of a mighty force. It has effectively deterred their attempts to seek so-called 'de jure Taiwan independence', and has deterred them from arbitrarily treading the red line," said Chan Yung, a member of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Chan further noted that all sectors of Hong Kong firmly support the implementation of the Anti-Secession Law and are committed to utilizing the rule of law and legal tools to uphold cross-Strait peace and stability.
"We resolutely oppose ‘Taiwan independence' separatist activities and remain steadfast in advancing the process of national reunification," Chan said.
Some others say they believe that the law also envisions vast space and prospect for peaceful reunification of the motherland and peaceful development of cross-Strait relations.
"Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's sacred territory. Realizing China's complete reunification is an inevitable trend, and is what the greater national interests entail and what all Chinese people aspire for. Enriching and refining the institutional framework for punishing separatist activities with law is of great practical significance and profound historical importance in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, advancing cross-Straits relations, and promoting national reunification. We must strengthen our confidence and make greater contributions to realizing national reunification, building China into a great country, and advancing national rejuvenation," said Lao Ngai Leong, chairman of the Macao Region China Council for the Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification.
China's Anti-Secession Law generates powerful deterrence to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces: experts
