Sunday, September 22, 2024 Jennifer Chernay, a travel consultant from Kahala Travel, was part of a group of more than ten U.S. travel agents who embarked on their first visit to China.
During her tour of Yuyuan Garden in Shanghai, she was struck by the remarkable fusion of ancient tradition and modernity, snapping photos with a puppet panda amid a backdrop that seamlessly juxtaposed classic Chinese pavilions with towering skyscrapers. From September 9 to 20, the U.S.
delegation explored some of China’s most iconic cities, including Beijing, Xi’an, Chongqing, and Shanghai. This immersive journey, part of a growing trend in “China Travel,” provided the agents with a firsthand experience of the country’s vibrant cultural heritage alongside its impressive modern infrastructure. Reflecting on her time in Xi’an, Chernay highlighted her visit to the Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum, where she and her fellow agents marveled at the world-renowned Terracotta Warriors.
They even had the opportunity to try their hand at creating small figurines, an experience that left Chernay in awe. “It was mind-blowing to think the ancient Chinese crafted these by hand,” she remarked. Gabriel Valeriano, from California-based Elite Voyages, expressed similar admiration, particularly for China’s public transportation system.
“The high-speed trains and easy access to subways and buses make traveling across cities very convenient. It’s ideal for our clients,” he noted. Valeriano further emphasized that the blend of historical sites and modern attractions in cities like Beijing and Shanghai would undoubtedly appeal to U.
S. tourists. His agency is already designing cruise tours that connect China with Japan and South Korea, capitalizing on China’s 144-hour visa-free transit policy.
Bo Lin, a representative from CTG Travel, one of the tour organizers, explained that the visit aimed to bolster tourism ties between the U.S. and China.
It built on the momentum created by the 14th China-U.S. Tourism Leadership Summit, held earlier this year in Xi’an.
China’s tourism market shows promising potential, with foreign visitors surging by 129.9% in the first seven months of 2024, totaling 17.25 million, according to the National Immigration Administration.
The country’s recent enhancements in visa policies and mobile payment systems are expected to further fuel this growth. “China’s tourism industry has immense growth potential, especially with the convenience improvements for international travelers,” Chernay concluded..
