“China’s high-speed rail is too fast and very punctual.”“Beijing is a city that combines history and modernity very well, and the residents are also very friendly and enthusiastic.”“This time in China is too short, and we plan to come again for an in-depth tour for two weeks.”

On the evening of March 19, Beijing welcomed a large-scale German-speaking inbound tourist group. 350 German-speaking tourists from Europe arrived in Beijing by high-speed train and started a one-day and one-night tour. It is reported that this group of tourists took the German cruise ship Atania and arrived at Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal in the morning. After visiting Yuyuan Garden and the Shanghai Bund, they rushed to Beijing in the afternoon.

"The Atania cruise ship is the largest ocean cruise ship owned by the German Phoenix Travel Agency. It mainly receives guests from Germany, Switzerland, Austria and other countries. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the Atania cruise ship had visited China many times. This time it is the first time in 4 years. Hu Jiying, deputy general manager of CYTS International Tourism Co., Ltd., the host of this cruise, told reporters, "The Atanya cruise ship carried more than 1,000 tourists."

Hu Jiying said that all guests on the ship have enjoyed China’s latest visa-free policy for German, Swiss and Austrian guests. "Guests were very happy when they learned that they could visit Beijing." Hu Jiying said that the previously 15-day visa-free policy for Shanghai Port cruise guests only allowed to travel in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai. After the implementation of the new visa-free policy, they have a wider travel radius. "Despite the tight schedule, 350 guests still decided to travel to Beijing, making it the largest German-speaking tour group to visit Beijing after the implementation of the latest visa-free policy."

At 7:00 on February 20, the reporter met some tourists at the Xinqiao Hotel in Beijing. They greeted reporters warmly and expressed that they were looking forward to this trip in Beijing. There are two routes in that day. 310 tourists chose the Juyongguan Great Wall + Temple of Heaven, and 40 tourists chose the Summer Palace + Temple of Heaven. 

Tourists visit the Temple of Heaven Park. Photographed by Yang Liang 

Tourists are listening to the tour guide’s explanation. Photo by Yang Liang

Hu Jiying said that they communicated with the scenic spots and hotels staffs in advance in order to facilitate the itinerary since tourists’s Beijing travel in a hurry. The guests checked into the hotels and entered the scenic spots very smoothly. "Given that the guests are all elderly, we have prepared wheelchairs and other equipment for guests in need."

At the end of the trip that afternoon, many guests said they would look for opportunities to come to China in the future. Kunte, an 85-year-old German guest, told reporters: "This trip to China left me with some small regrets. For example, the high-speed train was running at night and I couldn't see the scenery along the way. My stay in Beijing was too short and I didn't see the Great Wall and Temple of Heaven enough, I hope to come to China again next time.”