Foreign visitors pose in front of an ancient-style architecture in Guangzhou. (Photo by Chen Weiwei, Xia Ming, Li Xiang/Guangzhou Daily)

The"Enjoy a Happy Journey in Flower City- Guangzhou"event, launched by Guangzhou during the Spring Festival, concluded on February 14. 

During the five-day event, over 70 global tourism and social media influencers from 18 cities across 17 countries immersed themselves in rich Cantonese culture, experiencing a variety of cultural activities such as painting Cantonese opera masks, writing Spring Festival couplets, admiring lanterns, and celebrating the Lantern Festival.

Kinya from the United States poses with two children at Lingnan Impression Park, a cultural theme park in Guangzhou, on Feb 12. (Photo by Wang Jianqi, Tan Limei, He Shanshan/GDUFS)

As night fell, Kinya, a U.S.-based fashion magazine founder and editor-in-chief with hundreds of thousands of social media followers, visited the Chinese New Year Lantern Festival at the Yuexiu Park. Dressed in an elegant qipao (cheongsam), Kinya shared her enthusiasm for Chinese-style attire with Guangzhou Daily. “I love wearing it to showcase the Chinese culture,”she said.

This marked Kinya's second visit to China, but her first time experiencing the Chinese New Year. She felt fortunate to explore Chinese culture and traditional festivals in Guangzhou, describing everyone she met here as“warm and friendly.”

Aereon Wong from Malaysia poses at Guangzhou’s Lingnan Impression Park on Feb 12.(Screenshot by Wang Jianqi, Tan Limei, He Shanshan/GDUFS)

Aereon Wong, a Malaysian visitor who became fluent in Cantonese by watching Hong Kong dramas, fulfilled his long-held dream of visiting Guangzhou.Walking along the ancient pathway on the bustling Beijing Road, he marveled at the city's deep respect for traditional culture. "Preserving traditional culture better showcases a region's unique character,”he said, "which is incredibly meaningful."

The Italian family of the Santangelos spend a happy time at Guangzhou's Lingnan Impression Park on Feb 12. (Photo by Wang Jianqi, Tan Limei, He Shanshan/GDUFS)

“Absolutely fascinating!”The rich cultural experiences in Guangzhou left the international guests enchanted, with many expressing a desire to return. By scheduling the tour around the Lantern Festival, the peak of Spring Festival celebrations, Guangzhou showcased its cultural tourism "superpower" to the world.

Over the past year, Guangzhou has prioritized enhancing its inbound tourism by introducing innovative and engaging cultural experiences. In 2024, Guangzhou hosted multiple inbound tourism promotion events for international visitors, featuring Cantonese opera excerpts, lion dances, intangible cultural heritage displays, and fashion shows showcasing Gambiered Canton gauze (Xiangyunsha).

Industry insiders noted that thanks to the visa facilitation, the expansion of visa-free countries, and the 144-hour transit visa exemption policy, inbound tourism has become a new engine for Guangzhou's tourism market growth. After successfully hosting 46,000 inbound visitors during the Spring Festival holiday, Guangzhou leveraged this momentum by inviting global tourism influencers to celebrate the Lantern Festival, further boosting the international appeal of its "Celebrate Spring Festival in Guangzhou, Enjoy Blossoms in Flower City" brand.

Sources: Guangzhou Daily, Guangzhou Municipal Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism Bureau
Reporters: Chen Weiwei, Xia Ming, Li Xiang (intern)
English authors: Lyu Yun, Wang Jianqi (intern)
English editor: Lyu Yun