The growth, however, was uneven. Japan dropped out of the top 10 overseas destinations on travel platform Tuniu this year, after ranking first a year earlier. Indonesia, Turkiye and South Korea were among popular choices. Arrivals into Japan from the Chinese mainland fell 56.7 percent year-on-year to about 2.9 million in the first eight months, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization.

　　Meanwhile, overseas visitors were increasingly discovering more of China.

　　Trip.com Group reported double-digit growth in inbound travel during the combined holiday period, with bookings from Russia jumping 173 percent year-on-year. Britain, Malaysia and Canada each registered growth exceeding 50 percent.

　　For some visitors, the festive atmosphere was itself an attraction. An Irish tourist identified as Alan told China Daily that activities planned across China during the National Day holiday had helped persuade him to visit.

　　Wu Liyun, a professor at the China Academy of Culture and Tourism at Beijing International Studies University, attributed the growth to expanded visa-free policies, China's rising visibility on social media overseas and interest in experiencing Chinese festivities.

　　lijing2009@chinadaily.com.cn