宝藏小城成外国游客“新宠”

Core Insights - The trend of foreign tourists exploring smaller cities in China is on the rise, with a significant increase in flight bookings to these destinations during the summer season [1][2] Group 1: Tourist Trends - The number of Chinese cities booked by foreign tourists reached 144 during the summer, an increase of 16 compared to last year, with most new destinations being smaller cities known for their natural beauty [1] - Flight bookings to Yiwu, known as the "world supermarket," surged by 2.6 times, particularly among tourists from Vietnam and Indonesia, who saw over a 3-fold increase [1] - The popularity of the animated film "Wang Wang Mountain Little Monster" has led to a 9-fold increase in flight bookings to Datong, making it the fastest-growing destination for foreign tourists [1] Group 2: Travel Behavior - Foreign tourists are increasingly opting for in-depth exploration of unique small cities rather than just visiting major cities like Beijing and Shanghai, as indicated by the growing interest in places like Pingyao Ancient City and Qiao Family Compound [2] - The expansion of the 240-hour visa-free transit policy and the opening of more airports in smaller cities have made it easier for foreign tourists to travel to these locations [2] Group 3: Transportation Preferences - High-speed rail has become a primary mode of transportation for foreign tourists, with Indonesian tourists' bookings increasing by 2.5 times, and other countries like Malaysia and Canada seeing over 100% growth in high-speed rail ticket bookings [3] - Tourists from long-distance countries such as the US, Russia, and Canada tend to stay longer and explore more destinations, utilizing the extensive high-speed rail network to connect major and minor cities [3]