TIANJIN, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Brenda Olvera, a Mexican tourist, took a boat cruise along the Haihe River and was captivated by the grandeur of the tall skyscrapers and the vibrant scenery that bordered its banks.

"Tianjin is stunningly beautiful. It's like a dream, and it's different from other cities I've seen," Olvera said. This marked her first visit to Tianjin, a northern Chinese port city, following over a year of living in Beijing, the Chinese capital.

Upon disembarking from the cruise at a nearby dock, Olvera found an area of Italian-style buildings buzzing with activity. Drawn by the lively music, Olvera found herself in an area where Gothic, Roman and Baroque architectural styles greeted her eyes, delivering another visual feast. "It feels as if I've been instantly transported to Italy."

Built in 1902, Tianjin's Italian Style Area is the sole well-preserved Italian-style architectural complex in Asia. It is home to traditional restaurants, shopping malls, boutique retailers and international brand hotels, where the charm of tradition intertwines with international flair.

With the ongoing refinement of China's 72/144-hour visa-free transit policy, an increasing number of foreign travelers are eager to embark on a "China Travel" adventure.

Ma Yiliang, chief statistician of the China Tourism Academy, said that China has demonstrated to the world its warm welcome and sincerity in inviting overseas friends to visit, which has also inspired many international visitors to travel to China.

The Italian Style Area, with its unique architectural style, rich history and diverse consumer experiences, has recently seen a surge in foreign visitors. Pegoraro Renato, an Italian who runs an Italian-style restaurant in the area, is acutely aware of this trend.

His restaurant is steeped in Italian ambiance, with a menu offering an array of dishes such as Italian cold cuts, Caprese salad, Italian seafood soup and refreshing drinks and snacks.

Pegoraro Gabriele, Renato's son, who oversees food innovation and restaurant marketing, has tailored the menu and introduced summer offerings to cater to a broader spectrum of international tastes.

"We cook authentic Italian flavors, and at the same time, we study new dishes and adjust the taste according to the dietary habits of different customers," Gabriele said. "The restaurant is well-prepared to welcome tourists from around the world."

In Gabriele's view, the convenience of Chinese mobile payments has not only alleviated his accounting concerns, but also enhanced the dining experience for customers. "At the very beginning, it was mainly cash payments, and then Chinese customers became accustomed to Alipay or WeChat," he recalled.

"Now, more and more foreign customers can also use overseas bank cards like Visa and MasterCard to connect to China's mobile payment apps and enjoy the same convenience as Chinese customers," Gabriele said.

In the first half of this year, the Italian Style Area saw nearly 8.76 million visits, a 22.7 percent increase year on year. The number of foreign tourists has also risen sharply.

In July, the National Immigration Administration announced that China's 144-hour visa-free transit policy has been expanded to three more entry ports, taking the number of ports covered by the policy to 37.

"China's visa-free transit policy has brought more guest flow to our restaurant. We hope to keep up with China's rapid development, run the restaurant well, and enjoy our good life in Tianjin," Renato said. Enditem

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