Sichuan charms international visitors

Province's range of attractions and natural beauty leave rising number of tourists in awe, Yang Feiyue reports.

Giant pandas, dazzling drone shows, mouthwatering cuisine and breathtaking plateau landscapes — these were just a few of the experiences that left French traveler Hugo Pellegrin in awe during his visit to Sichuan province in late May.

The journey through the southwestern province offered Pellegrin an immersive taste of the country's natural wonders, cultural charm and evolving tourism landscape.

"It was amazing," Pellegrin says, recalling his visit to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.

"Seeing pandas in real life for the first time was definitely one of the highlights of the trip. They're just as adorable and fascinating as I imagined."

Beyond the cuddly national treasure, Pellegrin found himself equally enchanted by Sichuan's culinary delights. "I really love the food here," he says with a bright smile.

"It's so flavorful and diverse. I was expecting it to be very spicy, but it's just the right level. I could handle it even as a Frenchman!"

Pellegrin's adventure continued in the mountains of Jiuzhaigou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its multicolored lakes, alpine forests and cascading waterfalls.

"This place in the mountains reminds me a bit of the French Alps," he says.

"It feels familiar and peaceful — I really love it here," he adds.

As a nature enthusiast, he found solace and inspiration in the highland scenery, which contrasted beautifully with the bustling energy of Chengdu. Jiuzhaigou's tranquility, he says, gave him time to reflect and appreciate the planet's diverse landscapes.

Adding to the richness of his experience were traditional folk performances across the province. Many of these shows offered English-language narration or subtitles, which helped international visitors like Pellegrin understand the cultural significance of the performances.

"It's wonderful that they make the effort to include explanations in English," he says. "It shows thoughtfulness and makes the experience more meaningful."Pellegrin is among an increasing number of inbound travelers to the province, whose capital Chengdu was recently named among 2025 Global 100 Must Visit Destinations by domestic online major travel agency Trip.com Group.

Hu Yun, vice-governor of Sichuan, extended a sincere welcome to international friends, at the Global Cross-border Tourism (Sichuan) Conference and Trip.com Group Global Partner Gala on May 28.

Hu emphasizes that Sichuan is a place where natural beauty meets rich culture, and local authorities are committed to making it easier and more enjoyable for international travelers to explore all that the province has to offer.

To that end, the local government has implemented a series of measures aimed at enhancing the travel experience for inbound visitors. These include streamlining visa procedures, improving international transportation links, and investing in multilingual tourism infrastructure.

These actions have helped deliver positive results, with inbound tourist numbers showing significant growth in the first quarter of the year, and more than 520,000 international visitors staying in the province, a 62-percent increase year-on-year, Hu says.