Laos has been embracing an uptick in the return of Chinese tourists since the China-Laos railway, a flagship Belt and Road project that slashed travel time between the two countries, has fully opened passenger services.

The 1,035-km China-Laos Railway connects Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, with the Lao capital of Vientiane.
In April, the two sides agreed to open the two-way cross-border passenger services, enabling same-day travel from Kunming to Vientiane by train in a move to boost regional connectivity.
After the railway's launch in 2021, passenger train services have been offered along the section between Kunming and the Chinese border town of Mohan, as well as the section connecting Vientiane and Boten, the border town on the Lao side.
As a result, many Chinese have visited or are planning to visit Laos.
"I didn't have much impression of Laos before, but after the opening of the China-Laos railway, I can travel across the border by train, which is very novel to me," said Chinese tourist Chen Yanbin.
"I have been to many Southeast Asian countries, such as Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, but I have never been to Laos because the transportation was not that convenient. I feel that this [China-Laos] train is very comfortable, just like traveling in China," said another Chinese tourist Qi Yilan.
Surrounded by five nations, Laos is the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia, and the Lao government hopes the railway can turn the country into an important hub for transportation and a hot spot for regional tourism.
In May, the Lao government unveiled a three-year plan specifically to attract tourists from China, its third largest source of foreign tourists to Laos after Thailand and Vietnam, and many travel agencies in China have seized this opportunity.
"Our trip this time will cover all the must-see sites in Laos. For example, in Luang Prabang, a romantic city, we will visit many Buddhist temples in small towns here. Then we will go to places that are more suitable for outdoor sports, such as scenic spots for swimming," said Zhong Qian, a Chinese tour guide.