Chongqing—The "Land 🙂 Sea · China" International Backpacker City Walk Project concluded successfully in Chongqing, demonstrating its appeal as a global destination and its effective use of visa facilitation to bolster international exchanges and cultural tourism.
Since early 2024, when China implemented the 144-hour visa-free transit policy for citizens from 55 countries, including the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, inbound tourism has surged. Data shows a remarkable 341% year-on-year increase in related orders, highlighting the positive impact of China's growing "visa-free circle."
Leveraging this momentum, the Luhai International Communication Foundation launched its flagship program over the past year. It fostered ongoing connections with 500 international backpackers hailing from 65 countries who visited Chongqing.
The program offered deep-dive urban experiences and dialogue salons at iconic locations such as Fairy Mountain, Eling Park, and Shancheng Alley. Participants immersed themselves in Chongqing's vibrant cultural heritage, explored its historical evolution and modern development, and traced the stories embedded in its ancient sites, streets, and urban fabric.
Beyond sightseeing, the City Walks served as a dynamic and engaging platform for cultural exchange. International backpackers actively shared their Chongqing discoveries, personal reflections, and travel narratives.
"Moving forward, we plan to invite even more international backpackers to visit Chongqing and participate in city exploration and public welfare activities," stated Xie Yun, Project Director at Luhai International Communication Foundation: "Our goal is to further enhance their urban experience and deepen their cultural understanding of our city."
Luhai International Communication Foundation, established in recent years, focuses on promoting Chongqing's global image and fostering international exchanges through cultural and public welfare initiatives. The success of the "Land 🙂 Sea · China" project underscores its commitment to building bridges through people-to-people connections.