Heathrow send-off ushers travelers into Year of the Horse celebrations in China

Ahead of the eve of the Chinese New Year, passengers departing for Beijing and Shenzhen from London's Heathrow Airport received festive greetings and gifts during a festive sendoff event on Sunday evening.

The event "Welcome to China for the Chinese New Year" was jointly organized by the China National Tourist Office in London with cultural and tourism authorities from Beijing and Shenzhen, as well as airlines and airport partners, celebrating the start of the Year of Horse, which falls on Feb 17.

Passengers boarding Air China flight CA938 and Shenzhen Airlines flight ZH888 are scheduled to arrive in Beijing and Shenzhen on Chinese New Year's Eve, where the airports in both cities will also host arrival greetings and gift passengers free tickets to cultural events and attractions, tourist guides, and shopping coupons.

Irish passenger Callum was flying to Beijing for his fourth trip to China, and this time he brought his Spanish friend, Mario, to experience the country.

"My wife's family is in Qiqihar, so this time we will celebrate the Spring Festival with my parents-in-law," said Callum. "The scenery in Guilin, and the food, Guilin rice noodle was my best memory from the previous trip."

Zhang Li, director of the China National Tourist Office in London, said the Chinese New Year, also known as Spring Festival, is an important window for people around the world to learn about Chinese culture, and hosting send-off activities like this allows foreign travelers to experience the festive spirit from the moment they depart for China.

According to the office, in 2025 the number of visitors from the United Kingdom to Beijing and Shenzhen reached 117,500 and 184,400, respectively.

In January, China announced a unilateral visa-free policy for British passport holders visiting China for under 30 days, which will take effect from Feb 17.

Xia Baohui, general manager of Air China's London office, said he expected the policy will further boost UK travelers' interest in planning trips to China.

British passenger Greg who was flying to Shenzhen for his first trip to China, said he had high expectations for the one-month holiday.

"I know Shenzhen is a high-tech city, there are self-driving taxis and deliveries by drones … I want to experience some myself," he said. "Although I myself had to go through the visa process, the visa-free policy will definitely make travel easier for all British people."

The send-off ceremony was part of a wider Chinese New Year promotion campaign in the UK. Previously, "Hello! China" themed buses toured central London, and festive cultural activities have taken place and will be held in multiple UK cities till the end of February.

Chen Yuehua contributed to the story.