As Luo Jiyun explored the streets of Central Europe over the summer, the 24-year-old found himself amazed by its rich cultural heritage and how easy it was to use Chinese due to the influx of tourists.

Contrary to what his friends in Zhangzhou, Fujian province, told him, the language barrier was not insurmountable.

Luo explained that English fluency in China’s 70 third-tier cities is not as high as in first- and second-tier cities, where language programs are more common.

“I come from a third-tier city, and I was fascinated to see that in Europe you can find remnants of ancient wars as well as pieces of architecture that have been the same for a hundred years,” he said, adding: By contrast, in much of China, inner-city areas have been demolished for redevelopment.

Residents of China’s lower-tier cities like Luo have emerged as a rising force in outbound tourism, spurring growth in overseas travel due to a growing number of outbound adventures.

The rise in travelers reflects a broader continuing trend of spending among residents of lower-tier cities, as residents of first- and second-tier cities tighten their budgets.