Breaking News! Star River Cruise has won the annual Cultural and Tourism Innovation Model Award issued by the Polish Tourism Organization. Its river cruise product Danube Discovery & Poland Explorer has been honored as a Star Route in its first year!

A Decade of Joint Progress: China-Poland Tourism Achieves Growth in Both Volume and Quality

Mr. Rafał Szmytke, President of the Polish Tourism Organization, extended warm congratulations on the 10th anniversary of its Beijing Office: “In recent years, the Chinese market has firmly maintained its position as Poland’s core growth engine in Asia, and I am fully confident in its development potential!” In 2014, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Poland was only 60,000. By 2019, this figure had risen to 160,000. In 2024, as the tourism market gradually recovered post-pandemic, Chinese tourist arrivals to Poland reached 99,500, with guest nights totaling 164,000, representing remarkable year-on-year growth of 46.3% and 38.9% respectively. These statistics confirm that Poland’s profound historical heritage, magnificent natural landscapes and rich cultural experiences maintain a lasting and strong appeal to Chinese tourists. They also precisely match the upgraded consumption demands of Chinese travelers for high-quality, in-depth tours. 

Star River Cruise’s in-depth travel itinerary explores five Eastern European countries starting from Warsaw, the Phoenix City. Travelers visit six popular attractions including the former residence of Marie Curie and the Copernicus statue, before heading to Wrocław, a famous tourist destination on the Oder River known as the City of Dwarfs, to experience its long-standing culture. Group river cruise passengers are extremely excited about traveling to Poland and show great interest in the in-depth destinations and detailed urban experiences arranged by the river cruise tours. Star Cruise will further enhance its 2026 Poland-themed river cruise routes to meet the high-quality, leisurely travel needs of senior travelers. 

Integration of Culture and Tourism: Connecting Historical Memories Between China and Poland Through Music

Music and culture have always been the core bond linking tourism exchanges between China and Poland. 2025 marks the centenary of the International Chopin Piano Competition, and this top-tier event has become an important opportunity to promote the integration of culture and tourism between the two sides. The 19th International Chopin Piano Competition concluded in October, with American-Chinese pianist Eric Lu winning the championship. Chinese contestants Wang Zitong, Lü Tianyao and Li Tianyou also delivered outstanding performances, winning five important awards in total. The remarkable performances of Chinese players have made the inheritance of Chopin’s spiritual legacy between China and Poland a touching story. 

Centering on the centenary IP of the Chopin Competition, the Polish Tourism Organization has promoted special themed routes featuring Chopin’s music in China. These routes not only connect artistic landmarks related to Chopin, but also deeply integrate Poland’s unique historical and cultural experiences, precisely targeting and attracting youth art groups and senior tourists for in-depth visits. Music has served as a bridge to build a solid bond for people-to-people exchanges between China and Poland. 

Online, the Polish Tourism Organization has simultaneously launched interactive campaigns such as “Looking for Chinese Chopin Fans” and “Listen to Chopin’s Romantic Call”, inviting Chinese tourists who love culture and travel to share their unforgettable journeys in Poland inspired by “Tribute to Chopin”, reuniting with Chopin’s “romantic soul” across time and space. 

2025 also marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War. Against the backdrop of these two important commemorations, Poland has become a focal point of attention for Chinese tourists. Both China and Poland suffered from foreign invasion during World War II, enduring enormous national hardships and making heavy sacrifices before rising from the ashes. This unforgettable shared history has formed a solid bond connecting the peoples of the two countries. Numerous well-preserved World War II sites across Poland continue to attract Chinese visitors who come to pay tribute to history. 

Director Rafał Szmytke expressed his deep feelings: “We are delighted to see that Chopin’s spiritual legacy has been well inherited and promoted in China. The power of music and culture transcends borders and languages, bringing hearts closer together. We have noticed that an increasing number of Chinese tourists come to Poland because of Chopin’s music and the shared historical memories of World War II. This is exactly the key reason why guests are willing to extend their stay.”

Empowering Culture and Tourism for Win-Win Cooperation 

In March of the same year, the sharing session *Peace Declaration on the Piano Keys: Chopin’s Music and WWII History Tour* was grandly held at the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum. Co-hosted by Star Cruise and the Polish Tourism Organization, this cultural and tourism innovation event showcased a complete picture of Polish culture to travel influencers and industry professionals in Shanghai through three sections: historical video screenings, live music performances, and themed itinerary launches. 

During the awards ceremony, the Polish Tourism Organization presented exclusive awards to outstanding organizations. Among them, Star Cruise won the Model Award for Cultural and Tourism Innovation for its integrated model combining Polish overland tours with Danube river cruises. In 2025, the company served more than 500 travelers visiting Poland’s historic sites to experience the treasures of Eastern European history. Going forward, Star Cruise will continue to partner with the Polish Tourism Organization to launch more distinctive travel products integrating art and history. 

About Star River Cruise 

As a brand specializing in European river cruises exclusively for Chinese travelers, Star Cruise has devoted a decade to developing European inland waterway itineraries and promoting in-depth cultural and tourism exchanges between China and Europe. We are always committed to providing Chinese passengers with a more culturally tailored, comfortable and personalized European river cruise experience.