The Hai Shang Zhi Chuang, or "Window on the Sea", inbound cruise market opened at the Shanghai Port International Cruise Terminal on April 7, coinciding with the arrival of the Insignia cruise ship. Over 500 international travelers were treated to an immersive experience of Chinese culture.

The event leveraged the 240-hour visa-free transit policy to offer cruise passengers a grand welcome to Shanghai and China.

It featured 12 themed booths showcasing traditional crafts and intangible cultural heritage items such as lacquer fans, sugar painting, shadow puppetry, and calligraphy, each with bilingual introductions in Chinese and English.

To ensure smooth communication and payments, the market provided bilingual guides and online payment assistance, meeting the diverse and personalized needs of international visitors.

With the Seven Seas Explorer scheduled to dock on April 9, the "Window on the Sea" inbound cruise market is ready to captivate more travelers. As of the end of March, the terminal had received seven cruise ship visits, welcoming 6,984 tourists, with 17 total visits expected by the end of 2025.

Sources: Shanghai Observer, Hongkou district government