Expanded visa-free policies brings more tourists to Qingdao this year. [Photo/Guanhai News]

This year, with China expanding its visa-free policies and optimizing entry and exit procedures for international travelers, the appeal of "China Travel" is soaring, with Qingdao in Shandong emerging as a popular port of entry.

Data from the immigration checkpoint at Qingdao airport shows that the number of inbound and outbound passengers at the airport exceeded 2.7 million from Jan 1 to Dec 10 this year, marking a 98.16 percent year-on-year increase. Among them, the number of foreign nationals entering the country exceeded 320,000, a 107.08 percent increase compared to the previous year, with visitors from South Korea, Japan, the United States, Singapore, and Australia ranking among the top five. Sightseeing remains the primary purpose for inbound travelers to China.

Since Dec 1, 2023, when China implemented visa exemption for six countries including France and Malaysia, the visa-free "circle of friends" has continued to expand, with extended durations. With the further expansion of the visa-free policies, more foreign tourists are being attracted to visit China. Qingdao, which is developing into an international coastal tourism destination, has become a hotspot for international tourists.

Given Qingdao's geographical proximity to South Korea and the frequent exchanges between the two regions, the city possesses a unique advantage for economic and industrial cooperation.

Currently, Qingdao airport operates an average of 32 round-trip flights to South Korea per day, with flights evenly distributed throughout the day. Among these, there are 29 daily flights between Qingdao and Seoul, maintaining the top spot in Chinese airports. The high-frequency flight operations of the Qingdao-Seoul Express provide passengers with greater flexibility and convenience in commuting between the two destinations.

"For many Seoul residents, Qingdao is a beautiful and attractive coastal city for tourism. Currently, there are frequent flights from Seoul to Qingdao, coupled with very convenient visa-free policies, which not only save money but also time. I plan to visit Qingdao and Shandong frequently for tourism in the future," said a tourist from South Korea.