China: Beijing attracts tourists with richer, more immersive experiences.

Storyline Beijing attracts tourists with richer, more immersive experiences From sightseeing and paper-cutting to Peking Opera, Beijing is drawing large numbers of overseas travelers with richer, more immersive experiences. According to the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, Beijing received about 4.5 million inbound tourists in the first eight months of 2026, up nearly 34 percent year on year. Foreign tourists wander through Beijing's narrow alleys to soak in the authentic vibe. This American tourist shared her impressions of her three-day trip while enjoying a meal at a local family's dining table. Mary Elizabeth Kent Abdo, American tourist: "We did a beautiful city walk in this mansion. The age of the buildings and how nicely they've been kept has been very impressive. The gentle form of life here is beautiful. The pace is wonderful. The pricing is very fair, and there's a lot of English around China, at least in Beijing, so we know exactly what we're picking when we're at a restaurant." Foreign tourists are increasingly embracing local customs, traditions, and slow-travel experiences. At a bustling market in Beijing's Chaoyang District, Thai tourists are participating in paper-cutting and shadow puppetry performances. Thai visitor: "Today we participated in a paper-cutting activity. Paper cutting is more difficult than I expected. The puppet show is actually very interesting, and the narration by the children was pretty cute. I enjoyed it." Officials from Beijing's bureau of culture and tourism say they've instituted fast clearance lanes at most points of entry which let inbound tourists clear customs in about 30 minutes. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]