Shanghai is witnessing a surge in international visitors during the 2025 Spring Festival, marking significant milestones as it celebrates the first Chinese New Year since its successful UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity inscription and the inaugural Spring Festival following China's expansion of its visa-free policy.

According to the Shanghai General Station of Immigration Inspection, the city welcomed over 41,000 foreign visitors by 5 pm on Feb 1, the 5th day of the Spring Festival holiday. Notably, 22,000 of these visitors — representing 53.7 percent of total foreign arrivals — entered under the new visa-free transit policy.

This policy expansion, implemented in December 2024, now permits eligible travelers from 54 countries to transit through China for up to 240 hours without a visa.

Travel platform Ctrip's data reinforces this trend, revealing a 203 percent year-on-year increase in inbound tourism bookings during the Spring Festival period. The primary source markets for these visitors include South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan and the United States, with Shanghai ranking among the most popular Chinese destinations for international visitors.

International visitors are finding unique ways to engage with Chinese traditions during their stay. Areanna Haz, an Ecuadorian first-time visitor to China, chose Shanghai for her Spring Festival experience.

"Celebrating the festival in Shanghai definitely helped me understand Chinese culture better," she noted. "Watching the city illuminate with red lanterns, participating in traditional customs, and enjoying festive foods like dumplings and niangao (rice cake) gave me a deeper understanding of Chinese culture."

Her visit to Longhua Temple for blessings and to witness the fireworks display also added to her memorable experience, she shared.

Roberto Andrade Figueroa, a Mexican scholar from Harvard Kennedy School who visited Shanghai a few days before Spring Festival, observed the universal appeal of the festival.

Despite being a Chinese celebration, Spring Festival embodies a universal human experience of spending time with family and relishing a fresh start, he reflected. The abundance of snake-themed decorations, marking the Year of the Snake, particularly caught his attention.

Iranian visitor Reyhaneh Poorkavian, based in Beijing, provided her perspective on Shanghai's festival atmosphere after spending two days in the city. "Shanghai always maintains its energy and vitality," she observed.

Her itinerary combined visits to traditional sites like Yu Garden with modern landmarks such as the Oriental Pearl Tower, since she believes that "the combination of traditional elements and modern attractions" creates an atmosphere that thoroughly appeals to her.

Clarisse Le Guernic, a young French national operating a tourism company in Shanghai, also emphasized the city's dual appeal, "Shanghai's ability to seamlessly merge international sophistication with Chinese traditions creates its unique attraction. The coexistence of broad avenues and narrow lanes, alongside modern skyscrapers and historic architecture, presents a compelling urban tapestry."

Local businesses have responded proactively to the increasing international presence, with many providing multilingual services, diversified payment options and special Spring Festival events.

Shopping destinations like the Shanghai Super Brand Mall and Shanghai No 1 Shopping Center have introduced specialized Spring Festival programs, including cultural markets and pop-up exhibitions, designed to enhance visitor experience and showcase Shanghai's global character.

Zhou Jiaxuan, CEO of Charoen Pokphand Group's commercial real estate innovation division, emphasized the importance of sustainable tourism development, "Attracting international tourists is just the beginning. The key lies in enhancing high-quality services and management, providing them with delicate one-stop travel and shopping experiences."

Xia Miao contributed to the story.