On 15 June local time, the “Nihao! China” tourism promotion event and the 10th anniversary celebration of Hainan Airlines’ direct Beijing–Manchester route were successfully held in Manchester, UK. 

Jointly hosted by the China National Tourist Office (CNTO) London, Hainan Airlines, and Manchester Airport Group, the event brought together over 80 representatives from the UK and Chinese tourism, aviation, and media sectors.

The gathering reviewed the achievements of the route over the past decade, promoted China’s cultural and tourism resources alongside its convenient entry policies, and established a platform for deep exchange and cooperation in cultural tourism between China and the UK.

Distinguished guests in attendance included Tang Rui, Chinese Consul General in Manchester; Zhang Li, Director of CNTO London; Liu Yongde, Safety Director of Hainan Airlines; Shawkat Ali, Lord Mayor of Manchester; and Reece Wilkinson, Head of Corporate Affairs at Manchester Airport.

The direct Beijing–Manchester route was a significant outcome of the pragmatic cooperation between China and the UK in 2015, and it stands as the first international route to China from the North of England outside of London.

Over the ten years since its launch, this transoceanic air corridor has continuously facilitated personnel exchanges between the two nations, strongly driving exchanges and integration in bilateral trade, culture, and tourism, and becoming an important bond linking the friendship between the Chinese and British peoples.

Seizing the opportunity of the route’s 10th anniversary, the event focused on showcasing the charm of Chinese culture and tourism and interpreting favourable entry policies, injecting new momentum into the deepening cooperation between the two tourism markets.

The atmosphere at the event was warm and harmonious. In his opening address, Zhang Li, Director of CNTO London, stated that over the past decade, the Beijing–Manchester route has witnessed the continuous advancement of friendly relations between China and the UK. Currently, China implements a 30-day unilateral visa-free policy for UK citizens, which significantly simplifies travel procedures to China and creates excellent conditions for two-way tourism.

As a gateway city in the North of England, Manchester possesses deep cultural and tourism heritage and strong market vitality. He expressed expectations for the industries of both locations to work together to tap into collaboration potential, ensuring that cultural and tourism exchanges remain a lasting driving force for enhancing mutual understanding between the peoples of China and the UK.

Liu Yongde, Safety Director of Hainan Airlines, introduced the current operations and future plans of the route. Capitalising on the advantages of Beijing’s aviation hub, passengers departing from Manchester can enjoy seamless transfers to major Chinese cities and popular tourism destinations across Asia. Data shows that the route delivered a robust performance in 2025, with market recognition steadily climbing.

Starting this September, flight frequencies on the route will increase to 10 flights per week, further enhancing the level of connectivity between the two locations. As an airline rated as a SKYTRAX 5-Star Airline for 14 consecutive years, Hainan Airlines will also continue to optimise its “Aviation + Tourism” product system, supporting cultural and tourism exchanges between China and the UK with high-quality services.

The promotional segment was rich in content and packed with valuable insights. Pan Hang, Assistant Director of CNTO London, provided a detailed interpretation of the 30-day visa-free application process for British tourists and comprehensively presented China’s diverse natural scenery, history, culture, and urban landscapes.

Han Shaofeng, Sales Manager at Hainan Airlines, and Emily Lockwood, Business Travel Manager at Manchester Airport, also shared insights on airline cooperation policies and airport supporting services respectively, providing practical references for industry collaboration.

Not long ago, British media professional John participated in a familiarisation trip for media and influencers jointly organised by CNTO London and Hainan Airlines, conducting field visits to Hunan and Hainan provinces.

At the event, he shared his insights from the visit using images and text materials, describing the experience of witnessing a rocket launch at close range in Wenchang as truly unforgettable and a once-in-a-lifetime memory.

John admitted that what he saw and felt during this trip was deeply impressive: the magnificent natural landscapes, impeccable infrastructure, cutting-edge technological prowess, and high-quality leisure experiences have all turned into precious memories.

He particularly emphasised that the warm and friendly Chinese people were the most touching harvest of the journey. His sincere sharing allowed the guests present to intuitively experience China’s multifaceted charm, drawing continuous applause.

The event concluded with an engaging lucky draw, which raised the atmosphere once again. Ralph Warrington from the well-known UK travel agency Travel Counsellors was the lucky winner of the “China Premium Travel Package”. Jointly provided by Hainan Airlines, Hyatt Regency Beijing Wangjing, and Manchester Airport, the package includes return tickets for two, luxury hotel accommodation, and exclusive services such as VIP airport lounge access and fast-track check-in.

The hosting of this event has effectively raised the profile and influence of the “Nihao! China” cultural and tourism brand in the North of England, further strengthening the communication and ties between the Chinese and British cultural and tourism industries.

As travel between China and the UK becomes increasingly convenient, the scope for tourism cooperation between the two locations continues to expand. In the future, relying on mature air corridors such as the direct Beijing–Manchester route, both sides will carry out more diverse cultural and tourism exchange activities, continuously deepen mutual learning between civilisations and pragmatic cooperation, inspire more British people to visit and understand China, and drive China–UK cultural and tourism cooperation to new heights.