A country whose culture is unlike anything else, China is one of the world’s great destinations. Whether you’re exploring ancient temple halls or getting lost in the yak-butter-illuminated mountains of Tibet, taking a spin along the Silk Road or flaking out on a Hainan beach, a holiday to China is an experience you’ll never forget.
The jumble of wildly differing dialects, vast geographic and climatic variations and countless facets makes for an off-the-scale, diverse country that’s sure to tickle your tastebuds. Eat your way across a Chongqing hotpot or wolf down Peking duck, flag down the dim sum trolley in Shanghai or savour a bowl of Lanzhou noodles on a street market.
With its 1.4 billion food-loving people, China is no stranger to an array of culinary delights. From xiaolongbao (steamed dumplings) to roujiamo (shredded pork buns), and everything in between, it’s hard to imagine a meal that’s not bursting with flavour.
As the country’s booming economy has allowed it to open its borders to more visitors, travel to China is also on the rise. Over the past four months, the proportion of respondents to the China Travel Sentiment Survey who said they were likely to take a trip abroad increased by ten percentage points from 15 percent in May to 70 percent in August.
Among those who did take a trip overseas during this time, the number of bookings on the largest online travel agency in the country, Ctrip, increased by six-fold. Long-haul and outbound travel saw major increases too.
Inbound travel to the Middle Kingdom reached a three-year high during the 2023 Chinese New Year period, according to Ctrip’s report. The increase was driven by a record-breaking increase in air tickets to China and overseas hotel bookings, which were up four-fold from the same time last year.
A thriving economy is encouraging the country’s population to travel more often and for longer periods of time than ever before, the influx of foreign visitors has helped lift domestic consumption and create jobs. However, despite these positive signs, travel restrictions remain in place and many Chinese citizens are unwilling to risk traveling beyond the country’s borders.
Health concerns and the inconvenience of applying for travel documents are deterring China’s citizens from travelling outside the country. While a majority of travelers haven’t planned any overseas trips in the past few months, those that are planning to visit abroad are more likely to be traveling with their families and friends than on their own.
COVID-19 Prevention Measures and Restrictions in China
To help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, domestic prevention measures include the requirement to show a green health or travel code before entering public places, or traveling between cities in China. The code must be shown before boarding a train, plane or bus, and upon arrival at the destination city or province, depending on the specific circumstances.
If you or your family test positive for COVID-19, you may be quarantined at a designated government facility or hospital isolation ward. Consult with your embassy or consulate to see what options are available for you if you become ill while in China.