People ride horses near the Mergel Gol River in Hulun Buir, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Aug. 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Ma Jinrui)

Driven by China's visa-free access and chartered direct flights, Ordos city in North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region has become a top summer destination for South Korean tourists seeking starry desert skies, according to China Media Group (CMG).

At the Yinken Tala scenic area in Ordos, 82 uniquely designed space pods are neatly tucked deep in the endless desert. This summer, the real-life "Wandering Earth" base has been virtually booked out by South Korean tourists. With panoramic sunrise and sunset views at the doorstep and pristine desert underfoot, the chartered flight visitors are treated to a one-of-a-kind experience, CMG reported.

The smart hotel built from these space pods has become a must-stay for Korean tourists, with all August units fully booked. To meet soaring demand, the site is now racing to build 120 more pods, according to CMG.

"Regions like Inner Mongolia are accelerating efforts to diversify their tourism offerings this year," Jiang Yiyi, a vice dean of the School of Leisure Sports and Tourism at Beijing Sport University, told the Global Times on Sunday. "Beyond the traditional grasslands and deserts, new products such as stargazing experiences and space pod accommodations are being introduced, enriching the visitor experience and creating an integrated tourism matrix that combines sightseeing, leisure, and vacation," she said.

China's visa-free policy and the launch of direct flights have also played a key role. On June 19, a China United Airlines jet bearing the "Ordos" livery touched down smoothly at Ordos International Airport, carrying a full load of South Korean tourists. The flight marked the official opening of the Cheongju-Ordos international route and the launch of Ordos' large-scale inbound tourism initiative aimed at welcoming 10,000 international visitors to the city, according to the Ordos government's official website.

The route is currently the only international inbound service from South Korea to Inner Mongolia, newly launched by China United Airlines and operated with a Boeing 738-800. The flight takes just three hours, according to the government's official website.

In addition to Cheongju, Ordos Airport operates direct flights to Seoul, Muan, and Jeju from mid-June to mid-September, with eight weekly flights expected to bring in more than 12,000 international visitors.

"China is steadily expanding its institutional and unilateral opening-up, which has significantly boosted cross-border flows of people. Among the beneficiaries, tourism stands out as a sector with enormous potential," Hu Qimu, a deputy secretary-general of the Forum 50 for Digital-Real Economies Integration, told the Global Times on Sunday.

Hu said that after years of development, supported by both technological advances and business model innovations, China's tourism sector has seen a surge in high-quality offerings. "Diverse new formats and immersive experiences are emerging to meet the growing and evolving demands of consumers," he said.

"At the same time, favourable entry-exit policies have allowed more international visitors to enjoy Chinese tourism services at lower costs and with greater convenience," the expert noted. "This trend is creating new opportunities for inland regions that traditionally had lower levels of international exposure, ushering in a fresh wave of market dividends."

Global Times