The "cultural ferrymen" offering a more authentic glimpse into everyday China

SHANGHAI, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- As the scent of freshly steamed bean paste buns drifts through the People's Park in downtown Shanghai and laughter erupts from a nearby English-language stand-up comedy club -- not at the unfamiliar, but at the recognizable -- China's latest chapter of inbound tourism begins to take shape.

These are scenes of proximity, marking a shift in how international visitors encounter the coun