Data from Trip.com show that among the top 20 source markets for inbound travel to China this summer, European countries accounted for 30 percent, with orders surging by 275 percent year-on-year and ticket sales rocketing by over 2,000 percent.
Natural retreats
With its vast expanse and climatic diversity, ranging from high-altitude plateaus and forested mountains to coastal shores, China offers an abundance of natural cooling destinations that are drawing international visitors in search of summer relief.
Huangshizhai, a scenic area within Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in Central China's Hunan province, sits at an elevation of over 1,200 meters, where dense forests and mountain winds keep the temperature naturally pleasant. Data over the past five years show that average summer temperatures from June to August at the major tourist sites of the park have ranged between 16 and 25 C.
"For me, it's been a wonderful trip. I'm here with my family, surrounded by nature and spending time with Chinese friends. It feels great," says French tourist Isabelle Sala Jaboule as she walks along a trail in Huangshizhai. "It's very hot in France right now, but here we can breathe fresh air and feel so much cooler."
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park recorded more than 100,000 inbound tourist arrivals in July, a year-on-year increase of 46.78 percent, with travelers from 148 countries and regions, according to local authorities.
