China's inbound tourism boom: night markets, tech hubs, and mountain sports draw global visitors

China's inbound tourism boom is showing no signs of slowing, with international visitors flocking to night markets, trade hubs, and mountain resorts across the country.

In Yingkou, a port city in northeast China's Liaoning Province, a popular summer night market has become a hotspot for foreign tourists eager to sample fresh, affordable seafood. All 170-plus stalls now accept mobile payments, making it easier for international guests to buy local delicacies.

"I often see Chinese night markets online. I really find it interesting. It's so lively, and I really feel safe," said a South African tourist.

The surge in travel is reflected in railway data: China's national rail network recorded over 14.85 million foreign passenger trips from January to July, a 32.5 percent year-on-year increase.

In Yiwu, east China's Zhejiang Province, home to the world's largest small-commodities wholesale market, overseas buyers and tourists are exploring cutting-edge products like interactive electronic dogs, robots, and mechanical exoskeletons.

"It's the future. That's why I came to China, honestly," said Saed, a Syrian tourist. "You have to come every year or every few months to follow up with the technology, because it's developing way too fast."

Yiwu International Trade City saw a daily average of 12,000 foreign customer visits in the first half of the year, up 30 percent from the same period last year.

Even winter destinations are drawing summer crowds. At a national-level ski resort in Chongli, Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province — a co-host city for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics — a mountain bike race recently brought together riders from China, the US, France, New Zealand, and other countries. The resort's cable cars, typically used for skiing, have been retrofitted to carry bikes during warmer months.

A New Zealand competitor noted the event's scale: "This event is quite a lot bigger than anything that they have in New Zealand. It's quite a lot longer and quite a lot more races. I think it's good."