China is trying to build itself into an international destination for foreigners by introducing a favorable visa policy and offering tax refunds, Su Zhou reports.

China's growing global importance and economic strength mean groups of Chinese visitors are now commonplace at the world's great tourist destinations.

However, the feeling has not been reciprocated. The number of foreign tourists visiting China has been in decline for several years, prompting the authorities to consider new measures to attract them, including better standards of service, a raft of tax breaks and simplified visa requirements.