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"I don't think I've ever met anybody who's been in China who didn't like China," says Rebekka Mikkola, a Finnish influencer famous for her fluent Northeastern Chinese dialect, who also served as an interpreter during a visit by Finland's president to China. From having to travel to Helsinki just to apply for a visa, to now benefiting from China’s 240-hour visa-free transit policy, she's witnessed China's opening-up firsthand.

She shares a touching anecdote about an elderly Finn who “didn't eat rice to save it for the Chinese” – a humorous misunderstanding that reflects what many feel toward China. Beyond the convenience of Chinese apps, what she treasures most is the warmth of the people and the richness of a culture so different from Finland's.

Has visa-free travel changed how you see China? Share your experience below!

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'Saving rice for China' – A funny misunderstanding