The first train of Yichang-Xingshan high-speed railway, G6888, departs from Xingshan Railway Station in Xingshan county, Central China's Hubei province, Sept 28, 2026. [Photo/Xinhua]

　　Scanning a QR code to pay for breakfast, scrolling through videos even as the subway passes through tunnels — these are everyday routines that many Chinese people barely notice, yet many foreign visitors find hard to believe.

　　Here are 10 things in China that amaze foreign visitors during their "China Travel" experiences.

　　I. High-speed rail

　　Many foreign visitors ride China's high-speed rail during their trips and often come away impressed. Beyond the speed, online ticketing, and digital tickets making travel easier — fares are affordable and the ride is smooth. By the end of 2025, China's high-speed rail network had exceeded 50,000 kilometers, more than the rest of the world combined, forming an "eight vertical, eight horizontal" grid that links cities, towns, and villages.

　　II. High-speed rail stations

　　Chongqing East Railway Station, built on the mountainous city's famously complex terrain, is the world's largest high-speed rail station built in a single phase. It covers about 1.22 million square meters, equivalent to 170 standard football fields, with 15 platforms and 29 tracks. It combines high-speed rail, subway, bus, taxi, and long-distance coach services in one transport hub. Engineers drove nearly 8,000 deep piles through complex karst geology to complete the project.

　　III. Highways