International visitors learn how to make pottery from a local craftsman in Shandong. [Photo/Dazhong News]

The term "Chinamaxxing" has taken social media by storm, racking up over 4 billion views as young travelers from Europe and the United States seek to fully embrace Chinese lifestyles. In East China' Shandong province, this trend is turning into a tangible tourism boom.

During the 2026 National Day holiday, customs across Shandong handled 142,000 inbound and outbound travelers, a 27.3 percent year-on-year increase. Many visitors are no longer content with checking off landmarks. Instead, they seek to live like locals.

In Heze's Chengwu county, foreign visitors recently tried their hand at making black pottery, paper-cutting and gourd pyrography, engaging directly with intangible cultural heritage. In Qufu, one Moroccan tourist expressed her admiration for Confucian culture after attending a temple fair.

Two visitors take selfies while enjoying a spot of boating in Binzhou's Boxing county in Shandong. [Photo/VCG]

This immersive shift is supported by concrete policy. The 240-hour visa-free transit policy now covers 60 ports, including Jinan, Yantai, and Weihai. Meanwhile, the Seoul–Qingdao express route operates 36 daily flights. Mobile payment upgrades and the province-wide "instant tax refund" service allow travelers to navigate daily life smoothly. Refunds can now be processed on the spot in minutes and verified at departure ports in more than a dozen participating provincial-level regions, including Shanghai and Beijing.

Shandong's appeal lies in this accessibility. By welcoming visitors into everyday routines, the province offers a genuine, multifaceted experience of China.