Foreign friends take photos for tulips in Yunluo Botanical Garden.

On Feb 10, the "Enjoy Spring Festival in Flower City Guangzhou" City Tour for international friends, kicked off in the city. Over 70 global tourism and social media influencers from 18 cities of 17 countries, including Amsterdam, Rome, Sydney, New York, Los Angeles and Tokyo, gathered in Guangzhou for a five-day immersive experience of Spring Festival traditions and Cantonese culture. 

The visitors were treated to a variety of cultural feasts, including traditional Cantonese cuisine, lion dances, and Cantonese opera performances. In the first two days, they got up close with nature in Yunluo Botanical Garden, enjoyed the city's stunning views from above the Canton Tower, and participated in the Lantern Festival celebrations in Beijing Road Pedestrian Street. Many expressed their admiration for Guangzhou's unique blend of modernity and tradition, with particular likes for its beautiful Lingnan-style architecture, vibrant plant life, and friendly locals.

Kristina Corniel, a travel blogger from the United States, shared her excitement about her first visit to the Chinese mainland, highlighting the city's natural beauty and the convenience of its transportation system. She was particularly impressed by the Yunluo Botanical Garden and the Guangzhou Cultural Center, which showcased the city's rich floral species and cultural heritage.

Valeria Sizova, a model from Australia, described Guangzhou as a city full of "flowers, vitality, and a blend of tradition and modernity". She noted the city's tourism attractions and recommended visiting the Canton Tower and Yunluo Botanical Garden for their unique views and diverse plant life.

Italian couple Blasco Marotta and Maria Cristina Di Totto, veteran filmmakers who came to Guangzhou for the first time, spoke highly of the city's welcoming people and delicious Cantonese cuisine, expressing hope that the city should be known by more Italian people.

The event highlighted the growing trend of younger international tourists visiting Guangzhou, thanks to more convenient visa policies. According to data from Chinese online travel agency Ctrip, cross-border travel during the Spring Festival holiday increased by 30 percent in China, with Guangzhou being one of the top destinations for inbound tourism. More than 2,550 passengers entered the city from Baiyun International Airport under the 240-hour transit visa-free policy.