International tourists admire rock carvings in Dazu District, southwestern China’s Chongqing municipality, Tuesday. “China Cool” became a buzzword in summer 2026 as inbound tourism surged and foreign tourists showed growing enthusiasm for visiting China. The phrase carries a double meaning, referring both to relief from the summer heat and to something stylish or impressive. In the first half of 2026, 22.914 million foreign nationals entered China, up 20.4% from a year earlier. Of those, 17.815 million entered visa-free, a 30.6% increase.Xinhua