Shenzhen welcomes the first cruise tourism program for international passengers visiting China’s coastal areas

Over 600 international passengers boarded Zhao Shang Yi Dun, the former Viking Sun, at the Shekou cruise home port recently, embarking on a ten-day tour of China's coastal cities. 

The route is the first customized program for European and American passengers entering China's coastal areas by Viking Cruises. With Shenzhen and Shanghai as home ports, it passes through ports such as Xiamen, Fuzhou, Wenzhou, and Zhoushan. From September to November, eight voyages will be provided, and some ports along the route will also receive foreign passengers for the first time.

There are seven restaurants offering varied cuisines, including Chinese food, Italian cuisine, Asian-style barbecue, and Nordic pastries. The ship also has four special bars, which are great places to enjoy leisure time.

"This is my first trip along China's coastline, completely different from my previous travels to inland cities. I've never been to Shenzhen before, and I'm glad to be boarding here. The biggest advantage of cruise travel is that luggage only needs to be packed once," said Tracy from Tennessee, US.

"I visited Sea World and was amazed by the modern architecture of Shenzhen. It's a picturesque city. Everyone is very warm and friendly," said Arann Smith from the UK, who visited China for the first time.

The expansion of the 144-hour visa-free transit policy has attracted more foreigners to China. Therefore, Viking Cruises is set to enhance its high-quality onshore cultural and tourism programs. While cruises traditionally have only one or two port stops, Zhao Shang Yi Dun now features more stops. This allows foreign tourists to enjoy more on-board facilities and experience the culture of a greater number of Chinese coastal cities. Shekou cruise home port, as the first domestic seaport equipped with international transit capabilities, will remain committed to being a model for cruise port services.