Openness fuels surge in China's inbound visitors, strengthens people-to-people exchanges

Abstract : Fueled by China's expanding visa-free policies, inbound travel surged in 2025, with visa-free entries jumping 49.5 percent year-on-year to nearly 30.1 million, official data showed.

South Korean tourists dressed in Hanfu, a traditional Chinese attire, pose for photos in Yuyuan Garden in Shanghai, east China, Jan. 6, 2026.

Fueled by China's expanding visa-free policies, inbound travel surged in 2025, with visa-free entries jumping 49.5 percent year-on-year to nearly 30.1 million, official data showed.

The National Immigration Administration said on Wednesday that international visitors made over 82 million crossings in total, marking a 26.4 percent year-on-year increase.

Currently, China offers visa-free entry to citizens of 76 countries. Plus, travelers from 55 countries can take advantage of a 240-hour visa-free transit policy at 65 different entry points.

Beyond short-term visits, this openness is fostering a vibrant community of international residents. More scholars, students, and professionals are choosing to live and work in China, deepening people-to-people bonds. China, with much to be explored and a lot more to offer, continues to captivate hearts and minds worldwide. (Xinhua/Chen Haoming)

Oganesian Aida (R) shows the bread she made for her friend Zhang Yanyan in Suifenhe, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Jan. 8, 2026. The 62-year-old Oganesian Aida from Russia settled in Suifenhe two years ago at the invitation of her Chinese friend. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao)

Artem Shishov (L) and his girlfriend Ira Klimena pose for a photo in Suifenhe, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Jan. 8, 2026. Artem Shishov from Russia's Vladivostok is a local internet celebrity. He moved to Suifenhe in China's Heilongjiang three years ago and is engaged in foreign trade and tourism-related work. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao)

Dutch tourists Bastian Brinksma (L), Tim Tonkes (C) and Odin Schrama pose for photos in Yuyuan Garden in Shanghai, east China, Jan. 6, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Haoming)

Students from Thailand's Suan Dusit University learn the psychology of cabin service during an exchange activity at the Civil Aviation University of China in Tianjin, north China, Jan. 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue)

Italian tourists visit the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in central China's Hunan Province, Jan. 2, 2026. (Photo by Wu Yongbing/Xinhua)

A foreign tourist poses for photos at a sightseeing platform near the Liziba Station of Chongqing Rail Transit in Yuzhong District of southwest China's Chongqing, Jan. 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Huang Wei)

Zaparivannaia Mariia from Russia instructs young students at a fencing club in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Jan. 10, 2026. Zaparivannaia is a coach at a fencing club in Wuhan. (Xinhua/Du Zixuan)

Foreign tourists select products at Hongqiao market in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

Fardous Muhammad Tawfik Abdelwanis (R) uses a mobile payment service at a grocery store in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, Jan. 7, 2026. Fardous Muhammad Tawfik Abdelwanis from Egypt is currently a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences in south China's Hainan. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu)

German tourists Martha (R) and Sofie taste Tanghulu, a popular Chinese winter snack of crispy sugar-coated hawthorns, at Qianmen Street in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

Oganesian Aida poses for a photo at a restaurant in Suifenhe City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Jan. 8, 2026. The 62-year-old Oganesian Aida from Russia settled in Suifenhe two years ago at the invitation of her Chinese friend. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao)

Mauri Joseph Tualaulelei from Samoa does physical exercise at Central China Normal University in Wuhan City, central China's Hubei Province, Jan. 8, 2026. Tualaulelei is pursuing a master's degree in Physical Education at the university. He has been in China since 2017. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)

Foreign tourists walk out of Suifenhe Railway Station in Suifenhe, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Jan. 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao)

Austrian tourist Christian Edlinger (L) and his wife Heidi Reiss-Edlinger pose for a photo at the Bund in Shanghai, east China, Jan. 6, 2026. It was their fourth visit to China. (Xinhua/Chen Haoming)

A police officer of the Beijing General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection provides information to foreign tourists at Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 9, 2026. (Photo by Zu Guobao/Xinhua)

Malaysian tourists pose for group photos at Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in central China's Hunan Province, Jan. 2, 2026. (Photo by Wu Yongbing/Xinhua)

An inbound passenger goes through border crossing procedures at a joint inspection hall of the Suifenhe highway port in Suifenhe, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Jan. 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao)

Mauri Joseph Tualaulelei (L) talks with a teacher at the College of International Cultural Exchange, Central China Normal University in Wuhan City, central China's Hubei Province, Jan. 8, 2026. Tualaulelei from Samoa is pursuing a master's degree in Physical Education at the university. He has been in China since 2017. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)

Thai students from Suan Dusit University learn cabin safety management during an exchange activity at the Civil Aviation University of China in Tianjin, north China, Jan. 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue)

Dutch tourists David (L, front) and Pim (R, front) pose for photos with Chinese tourists at the Tiantan (Temple of Heaven) Park in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

Italian tourist Chiara Manuzzi (R, front) enquires tax refund policies at a shopping mall in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 6, 2026. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

South Korean tourists pose for group photos at Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in central China's Hunan Province, Jan. 1, 2026. (Photo by Wu Yongbing/Xinhua)

Mauri Joseph Tualaulelei poses for a photo at Hubei Provincial Museum in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Jan. 8, 2026. Tualaulelei from Samoa is pursuing a master's degree in Physical Education at Central China Normal University. He has been in China since 2017. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)

Mexican tourists and their tour guide (1st L) pose for photos at the Tiantan (Temple of Heaven) Park in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

Mauri Joseph Tualaulelei tries a Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Jan. 8, 2026. Tualaulelei from Samoa is pursuing a master's degree in Physical Education at Central China Normal University. He has been in China since 2017. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)

Foreign tourists take photos at a sightseeing platform of Liziba in Yuzhong District of southwest China's Chongqing, Jan. 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Huang Wei)

Spanish tourist Jose Vicente Guerrero (R, front) and his son Ander Guerrero pose for a photo at West Lake scenic area in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Jan. 3, 2026. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi)

Zaparivannaia Mariia from Russia has a hotpot meal in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Jan. 10, 2026. Zaparivannaia is a coach at a fencing club in Wuhan. (Xinhua/Du Zixuan)