A view of a market in Varanasi, India Photo: Courtesy of Huiting

"A Chinese woman has traveled solo to India three times." When Huiting shared her experiences under this bold headline, the online response was immediate, with many commenters praising her courage.

Huiting told the Global Times she understood the reactions. "If you can handle the smells of cow dung, spices, incense and urine all mixing together, then you're ready for India," she said calmly, describing her experience in the subcontinent.

Her Indian adventures began in 2012 during what she calls her "reckless youth." Fresh after graduation, Huiting embarked on a 15-day odyssey across India's classic highlights - navigating New Delhi's chaotic streets, marveling at the Taj Mahal's moonlit beauty in Agra, and soaking up Kolkata's charm.

India's recent announcement to resume tourist visas for Chinese nationals starting July 24 has sparked lively discussions across Chinese social media. This marks the first reopening in five years since the South Asian country suspended tourist visa applications for Chinese citizens in February 2020.

But the discussions are mixed.

Different types of evaluation

A Global Times editorial wrote that "the threshold for Indian visas for Chinese citizens remains too high!" It said that applicants are required to submit bank statements of the last six months, showing a minimum balance of 100,000 yuan ($13,934), and apply in person in Beijing, Shanghai or Guangzhou. These requirements not only fall short of the visa standards from five years ago but also clearly lag behind the global trend of streamlining visa policies and facilitating cross-border travel.

In the comments section of the relevant Weibo post of the Embassy of India in China, the comments from Chinese netizens show a "one-sided" trend, such as "India, who dares to go?"

But Huiting is considering her fourth trip to India, a country that she describes as "incredible."

"I love being a niche backpacker and just exploring. The place has such a strong pull for me." Having visited the country in 2012, then 2017 and 2020, Huiting has seen all the tourist hotspots in India.

India's profound culture is reflected in its incredibly rich architectural and historical heritage. Every corner of the country brims with cultural significance, often embodied in its sacred structures, Huiting said with a brimming smile.

Cultural traditions are deeply ingrained in daily life. For instance, many Indians, men and women, wear turbans or apply vermilion. Married women wear vibrant red sindoor along their hairline as a symbol of matrimony, she continued.

"I visited the Taj Mahal, explored Hindu traditions and even journeyed to Varanasi - the holy city of Hinduism. There, along the Ganges, I witnessed funeral pyres burning openly, a stark reminder of how faith intertwines with every facet of the city's existence."

"It's awe-inspiring to see an entire religion woven so seamlessly into the fabric of a place," Huiting said.

Compared to other countries such as Russia and other South Asian countries "India is the only country that astonished me," Huiting told the Global Times.

In 2019, compared with other traditional overseas travel destinations, India remained a niche for most Chinese, according to the Xinhua News Agency, citing China's online travel agency Trip.

Higher requirements

However, Xu Xiaolei from a travel agency admitted to the Global Times that, even with India having reopened the visa applications, Chinese citizens show limited overall interest in traveling to India, with only sporadic inquiries from individual tourists.

According to data from India's Ministry of Tourism, 339,442 Chinese tourists visited India in 2019. However, India welcomed only 39,586 Chinese tourists in 2020, after it stopped issuing tourist visas to Chinese citizens that year, media reported.

Relations between India and China have shown gradual improvement since a sharp downturn in 2020, triggered by a deadly clash in the Galwan Valley. The Indian government's decision to reopen visa applications is a positive step toward easing tensions, though rebuilding people-to-people exchanges will take time, Qian Feng, director of the research department at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, told the Global Times.

High-level diplomacy has influenced how locals interact with one another. Huiting recalled that in 2012, when relations between New Delhi and Beijing were strong, the people she met were noticeably friendlier.

Facing online skepticism about the real travel conditions in India - whether it truly matches negative media portrayals and critical comments on China's Weibo where some have posted comments describing the country as "filthy," "dirty," or "unsafe" for foreigners - Huiting acknowledged these concerns but stressed that no destination is entirely risk-free.

Qian told the Global Times, for India's tourism industry to truly welcome back tourists, merely opening up visas might not be enough.

Xu said, as a travel agency observer, he believes that when it comes to tourism infrastructure, service standards and global branding, India still lags behind regions like Southeast Asia and the Middle East. If India wants to attract more Chinese tourists, it'll need to step up its promotional efforts and seriously upgrade its travel amenities. Qian also mentioned facilitating the use of e-payments and increasing the presence of Chinese language services in scenic spots and restaurants.

As India gets ready to welcome more travelers, Huiting said, as backpacker, she won't revisit the same places but will explore new cities instead. In the near future, she might go to east India to visit Sun Temple, Konarak. "One day, I hope to explore more of India's local gems and truly experience more of this incredible country," Huiting shared: "Stay alert so that you can enjoy India safely."