Foreign tourists dressed in ancient Chinese clothing pose for photos at the Palace Museum in Beijing on April 1, 2026. As China's visa-free policies continue to deliver benefits, a huge influx of foreign visitors has come to China, making the Palace Museum a top tourist destination. Photo: VCG

China processed a record 369 million cross-border trips in the first half of 2026, up 10.8 percent year-on-year, according to the National Immigration Administration (NIA) on Friday. 

Among them, foreign nationals accounted for 45.906 million trips, up 20.6 percent year-on-year. Visa-free entries by foreign nationals reached 17.815 million, accounting for 77.7 percent of all inbound foreign arrivals, up 30.6 percent year-on-year.

The record number of cross-border trips in the first half of 2026 suggests that China's inbound tourism sector is moving into a new stage of growth, supported by broader visa facilitation, enhanced travel services and closer global connectivity, a Chinese expert said, noting that the increase in foreign visitors also highlights China's enduring attractiveness as a leading consumer market and destination for international business.

With China's unilateral visa-free and visa-free transit policies continuing to expand and deepen, the number of foreign arrivals has shown rapid growth, NIA spokesperson Lin Yongsheng said at a press conference on Friday. Foreign arrivals to China reached 22.914 million in the first half, up 20.6 percent. Of those, 17.815 million entered under visa-free policies, accounting for 77.7 percent of all arrivals, an increase of 30.6 percent year-on-year, according to the NIA.

The top 10 source countries for inbound foreign travelers to China were South Korea, Russia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, the US, Japan, Mongolia and Australia, accounting for 62 percent of all foreign arrivals.

As more countries grant unilateral visa-free access to Chinese citizens, the value of the Chinese passport also continues to rise, making it easier for Chinese citizens to travel abroad, according to the NIA.

Since the beginning of this year, countries including Turkey, Brazil, Sudan and Cambodia have announced unilateral visa-free policies for Chinese ordinary passport holders. In the first half of the year, Chinese mainland residents made 88.023 million outbound trips, up 10.5 percent year-on-year, according to the NIA.

The record-high number of cross-border trips in the first half of 2026 shows that China's inbound travel market has entered a new phase of recovery and expansion, driven by expanded visa-free policies, improved travel services and stronger international connectivity, Hu Qimu, a professor at the Maritime Silk Road Institute of Huaqiao University, told the Global Times on Friday.

The expansion of unilateral visa-free arrangements and visa-free transit policies is an important step in China's efforts to advance high-level opening-up and strengthen ties with the rest of the world, Hu said, noting that these measures have effectively lowered entry barriers, enhanced travel convenience and improved the efficiency of cross-border mobility for international visitors.

The rapid growth in foreign arrivals also reflects China's continued appeal as a major global consumer market and business destination, with more international travelers coming to explore opportunities in tourism, trade and investment.

"The increase in overseas visitors is expected to bring fresh opportunities for tourism, hospitality, retail, transportation and other service sectors, while providing additional momentum for domestic consumption growth," said Hu.

The latest data released by the World Travel & Tourism Council show that China's travel and tourism economy expanded by 9.9 percent in 2025, more than double the global average, and China is on track to become the world's largest tourism economy by 2030. 

Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson of China's Foreign Ministry, said at a regular press conference in April that over recent years, "China Travel" has gained increasing popularity and there has been a lot of positive feedback from foreign travelers who have come to China. 

"Come to China and discover its true charm. As we embrace the spring-summer travel season, we welcome more foreign friends to come to China visa-free and have an immersive experience of the country, where ancient history meets modern marvels," said Guo.