A Foreign tourist experiences Chinese culture. [Photo/Xiamen Daily]
As the Spring Festival approaches, foreigners are coming to Xiamen to celebrate Chinese New Year. Xiamen International Cruise Home Port welcomed the first international cruise ship of 2025, Silver Dawn, on Jan 24. It is the first cruise ship in Fujian province bring in foreign tourist groups under the new visa-free scheme.
Nearly 500 foreign tourists from countries such as Australia, the United States, and Canada, embarked on a two-day journey in Xiamen, immersing themselves in the city's culture and experiencing the excitement of the Spring Festival.
Following the Silver Dawn, more cruise ships are set to visit Xiamen in 2025, including the World Europa and Zhao Shang Yi Dun, among others. This will further establish Xiamen as a prominent destination for cruise tourism, solidifying its reputation as a top choice for travelers.
Xiamen is a popular city for international tourism and the entry point for many foreigners visiting China. The 240-hour visa-free transit policy for foreigners will further enhance its appeal in this regard.
In response to the new policy, Xiamen has introduced integrated inbound tourism routes for the first time. Foreign tourists can now arrive in Xiamen by cruise, apply for the "240-hour visa-free transit", explore Xiamen, and then depart directly to other domestic destinations without following the cruise group. This not only saves time and money, but also enriches the travel experience.
Amap, a leading Chinese digital map provider, has launched the first English-language version of its popular navigation app, aiming to facilitate travel for the growing number of international tourists visiting China.
The National Immigration Administration announced on Dec 17 that it will fully relax and optimize the visa-free transit policy, which is effective immediately. Xiamen is involved.
