Luohu Port, a major land gateway connecting Hong Kong and Shenzhen. File photo

Luohu Port, a major land gateway connecting Hong Kong and Shenzhen, has recorded a significant rise in inbound travelers this summer, driven by a growing number of foreign families choosing China as their holiday destination.

According to the latest data released by the Luohu Border Inspection Station, the port handled more than 2.8 million inbound passenger trips between July 1 and July 29. Among them, nearly 50,000 were made by foreign nationals, representing a year-on-year increase of approximately 16%. Notably, the number of inbound trips by foreign children under the age of 14 exceeded 3,400, marking a jump of more than 25% compared with the same period last year.

A new wave of summer visitors

Since the summer vacation began, the arrival hall at the Luohu Checkpoint has seen a shift in its usual passenger demographic. While the checkpoint typically serves cross-border commuters, shoppers, and family visitors from Hong Kong, the queues are now filled with young international travelers eager to explore the Chinese mainland.

Among the new arrivals was the Smith family from the United Kingdom. After visiting Hong Kong, they crossed into Shenzhen via the Luohu Port to begin a two-week tour of Shenzhen and Guangzhou.

"My children have always been fascinated by Chinese culture, and the visa-free policy has made our travel incredibly convenient," Mr. Smith, who also praised the efficiency of the border clearance process, told China News Service.

Policy facilitation and multi-destination travel

Border officials attribute the influx of international tourists to China's expanding visa-free initiatives, including unilateral visa exemptions and the 144-hour transit visa-free policy. These measures have simplified travel logistics, making China a highly attractive "spontaneous travel" destination for overseas families.

Luohu Port's location next to Hong Kong has also made it a preferred transit point for "Hong Kong + the mainland" multi-destination itineraries. Many international families take advantage of Hong Kong's global aviation hub, flying into the city before crossing the land border in Luohu to explore the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and other regions on the mainland.

Once on the mainland, foreign families are drawn to a variety of educational and recreational attractions. In Shenzhen, tech museums, natural history museums, coastal resorts, and technology-themed tours have become highly popular among international visitors.

Enhanced services at the border

To accommodate the summer rush and the specific needs of families, the Luohu Border Inspection Station has implemented several target measures to streamline the entry process.

These include:

● Setting up dedicated express lanes for foreign travelers.

● Utilizing integrated fingerprint collection devices to speed  up processing.

● Deploying multilingual volunteer teams to assist travelers.

● Offering pre-arrival guidance for filling out electronic arrival cards.

In addition, border inspection officers have been stationed to help parents with strollers, direct families to nursing rooms, and provide travel information, ensuring a welcoming and efficient entry experience for international visitors.