The inbound tourism of Shanghai has shown a speedy recovery, welcoming over 3 million international visitors in the first half of this year, a 140 percent increase over the same period last year.

The tourism boom has been driven by the resumption of international flights after the COVID-19 pandemic and the introduction of visitor-friendly policies such as visa-free transit.

To meet the diverse needs of inbound tourists, the city has introduced 121 selected travel routes, according to Zhong Xiaomin, director of the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism.

The itineraries range from half-day mini tours to six-day in-depth tours and cover a variety of themes such as culture, leisure, and urban attractions.

Half-day tours such as the Huangpu River Night Cruise and the Suzhou Creek Hike are designed for time-poor visitors who want to quickly experience Shanghai's special attractions.

One-day tours cover themes such as architecture, intangible cultural heritage, strolls in ancient towns, and riverside excursions.

Three-day city tours offer routes such as "New Trends in Old Shanghai" and "Exploring the Classic and Riverside Charm of Shanghai".

In addition, four, five, and six-day itineraries have been introduced to allow visitors to experience the appeal of everyday life and appreciate the historical charms of the metropolis through neighborhood visits, city walks, gourmet tours, and cultural activities.

To better serve foreign tourists, the city has produced an English-language traveler's guide that addresses frequently asked questions regarding payment, transportation, communication, visas and other issues.

Source: Shanghai Observer