Beijing, July 14: China will send 25 million people to Belt and Road countries in 2017, according to the travel service provider, C-trip.

A news report published in Chinese media says with the summer holidays well underway, China's overseas tourism market is as hot as the sun.

Top foreign destinations for Chinese travelers this summer are Japan and Southeast Asian nations, but other countries are being added to China's favorite travel destinations.

Russia and the United Arab Emirates are among the top 20, and other countries along the Belt and Road Initiative are attractive to newcomers.

Data from C-trip revealed that 60% or a record 30 million Chinese tourists taking a break this summer will be travelling abroad, meaning that the competition is on among foreign countries to attract those tourists and their cash.

To attract more tourists, many countries are making efforts to make travel easier for Chinese tourists. Serbia and Belarus have both commenced visa-free policies for Chinese citizens this year. Canada, on the other hand, is setting up seven new visa application centers in China this year, in cities including Nanjing, Chengdu, Hangzhou and Jinan.

Anticipated to enhance the vibrant city of Yiwu, the 362-room Shangri-La Hotel, Yiwu opened on 24 June in the 52-storey mixed-use Yiwu World Trade Centre – the tallest building in Zhejiang Province.

The tower comprises commercial space, apartments and shopping, and is located in the epicenter of the city’s business district and adjacent to the world-famous Yiwu International Commodity City.

Historically known as a trading town, Yiwu has burgeoned into an economic success attracting merchants from South America, Europe and the Middle East. The recent establishment of Yiwu as the starting point for the new Silk Road – a freight train service that retraces the ancient trading route connecting China with Asia and the rest of Europe – affirms the city’s prominence since it was founded in the Qin dynasty, more than two millenniums ago. 

To commemorate Shangri-La Hotel, Yiwu’s opening, an introductory offer priced from RMB888 is available until 3 September 2017 and includes daily breakfast buffet, as well as RMB200 credit which can be used against any hotel service. For reservations or details, call (86 579) 8151 8808 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The daily room rate includes the prevailing Value Added Tax and 10 per cent service charge.

Shangri-La Hotel, Yiwu’s exquisite palette of warm sienna and walnut colours are a complementing canvas for the intricate Dongyang wood carved screens in the hotel’s public areas that connect guests to the culture and history of Zhejiang Province. In the spacious lobby is a painting by Mr. Zhou Shengfa, one of Yiwu’s most prominent artists. It depicts the scenic beauty of Zhejiang Province’s waterfalls and mountains – natural elements that are regarded as auspicious to harmonize the hotel’s environment. 

The tranquil setting continues to the hotel’s rooms – starting from 48 square meters – and 136 serviced apartments that are located from levels nine to 38 of the building and offer far-reaching views of the sprawling Yiwu landscape. Each room is dressed in natural colours and adorned with the Chinese Rose – the flower of Yiwu – which can be found engraved on wood, in a painting and embossed on panels to provide an extra dimension of luxury. Other features include complimentary Wi-Fi, a marble bathroom with premier toiletries, an executive desk and large picture windows.

The elegant suites provide a minimum of 96 square meters of living space and look out onto the Yiwu River. Enhanced by a full range of modern touches such as a Blu-ray player and tea and coffee making machine, suite guests can also enjoy the services of the hotel’s Horizon Club Lounge where breakfast, refreshments and cocktails are served daily.

Three hotel restaurants add to the city’s dining destinations. Yue Xiu Wok, the all-day dining restaurant, showcases extensive buffet presentations at the multiple cooking stations. Its brick walls and dark wood floors provide a modern perspective to dining, while cooking paraphernalia line the shelves. Eight private dining rooms provide separate gathering spaces for business entertainment or family celebrations. 

During breakfast, lunch and dinner, Brown Sugar Bakery & Cafe comes to life with made-to-order Asian and Western dishes. Design elements such as hanging blown glass lamps, an exposed ceiling and black accents complete the distinctly contemporary guest experience. An outdoor terrace is available for alfresco dining.

The Lobby Lounge, crowned with an ornate rose chandelier in homage to the city’s official flower, serves refreshments and evening cocktails, and is the gathering place for light snacks at any time of the day. 

More than 3,880 square meters of event space offers extensive meeting and conference facilities including a 2,000-square-metre and 12-metre-high pillar-less Grand Ballroom, which comfortably accommodates 1,000 guests for banquets. Shangri-La Hotel, Yiwu is the first in the city to feature an elevator that is large enough to transport automobiles directly to the ballroom. Eleven further function rooms with exceptional facilities are supported by the hotel’s expert team of event organizers. 

For wellness and relaxation, the hotel’s spa offers treatment rooms for body treatments and massages. A fully equipped gym, an indoor heated swimming pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and steam rooms are provided for complimentary guest use. 

Hangzhou and Shanghai are easily accessible to Yiwu via a 30-minute and 90-minute high-speed train journey, respectively. Within a short distance from Shangri-La Hotel, Yiwu are the International Expo Centre, airport and train station. 

Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, one of the world’s premier hotel management companies, currently operates over 95 hotels in 22 countries and 73 destinations under the Shangri-La, Kerry, Hotel Jen and Traders brands. Prominently positioned in Asia, the group has established its brand hallmark of “hospitality from the heart” over four decades in Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Europe, North America and the Indian Ocean. The group has a substantial development pipeline with upcoming projects in Australia, mainland China, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka.
Source by: luxurytravelmagazine.com

The number of Chinese tourists who visit Russia has surged in recent years, thanks to the popularity of "red tourism" among China's older generations and closer ties between the two nations, industry insiders said over the weekend ahead of President Xi Jinping's scheduled state visit to the Russia.The number of Chinese tourists who visit Russia has surged in recent years, thanks to the popularity of "red tourism" among China's older generations and closer ties between the two nations, industry insiders said over the weekend ahead of President Xi Jinping's scheduled state visit to the Russia.

"Russia is a fast-rising attraction for Chinese tourists in recent years. In the first four months of this year, the number of Chinese tourists who travelled to Russia through our platform has jumped by almost 200 percent year-on-year," a spokesperson from online travel platform lvmama, who prefers not to be identified, told the Global Times over the weekend.

She noted that Russia was one of the fastest-growing European destinations along the Belt and Road (B&R) initiative for Chinese tourists during the three-day Dragon Boat Festival. 

The number of Chinese tourists who booked trips to Russia via the platform doubled last year, she added. 

In 2016, the total number of Chinese tourists to Russia reached 1.2 million, up about 40 percent from 2015, China Radio International reported in May, citing industry data. Russia now ranks 16th on the list of Chinese tourists' favorite outbound travel destinations, data from consulting firm Euromonitor International showed. 

"In addition to traditional tourists' packages, Chinese travelers are also looking to experience local cultures in a deeper and more interactive way," a spokesperson from travel agency Ctrip told the Global Times over the weekend.

"Red tourism" is gaining momentum among middle-aged and elderly Chinese people who are nostalgic about the Communist revolution and Soviet Union history, the spokesperson from lvmama said, noting that Chinese tourists over 40 years old account for more than 50 percent of the total domestic travelers to Russia. 

Former Soviet Union era sites such as Red Square and Victory Square in Moscow as well as Lenin Memorial Museum in Ulyanovsk are growing hotspots for Chinese tourists, industry insiders said.

"China's older generations have special connections and feelings to Russia due to their time growing up. Many of them still remember the Russian rhythms they sang in childhood and regard Russia as the birthplace of Leninism," Song Ding, an industry analyst from the China Development Institute, told the Global Times on Sunday.

In addition, the depreciation of the rouble as well as a stronger yuan also appeals to Chinese tourists who wish to take advantage of the fluctuations in exchange rates and buy cheaper commodities in Russia, the spokesperson from Ctrip noted.

Closer ties

The "red tourism" package, which has attracted a growing number of Chinese tourists, reflects a closer relationship between China and Russia under the B&R initiative, Song said, noting that the two countries have stepped up efforts to strengthen bilateral ties in various areas such as tourism and cultural exchange.

For example, Chinese and Russian tourism officials have signed agreements on promoting "red tourism" in 2015, and the two sides have successfully organized a China-Russia Red Tourism Cooperation and Exchange program for two consecutive years, the Xinhua News Agency reported over the weekend. 

As this year marks the 100th anniversary of Russia's October Revolution in 1917, the two nations have signed an agreement opening up chartered flights for "red tourism" in March, the spokesperson from lvmama said. 

The move is expected to lower travel costs significantly. 

Last year, Russia also extended from two to three weeks the length of visas for Chinese on group tours, while reducing the minimum number for a group from five to three, the spokesperson added. 

Song stressed that "President Xi's visit to Russia starting on Monday, coupled with favorable policies, will offer another boost to the rising Russian tourism market." 

He also forecast that Chinese tourists' trips to Russia will "maintain explosive growth" in the next three to five years.

Source by: globaltimes.cn