China reported a record 697 million inbound and outbound border crossings in 2025, a 14.2 percent increase from the previous year, as expanded visa-free policies and travel facilitation measures boosted international travel, the National Immigration Administration said Wednesday.
Inbound travel saw a notable rise, with over 82 million international crossings, up 26.4 percent year-on-year. More than 73 percent of these travelers benefited from China’s visa exemption or visa-free transit policies, marking a 49.5 percent jump from 2024.
The growth was largely driven by policy measures, including expanded unilateral visa-free access for citizens of 48 countries and reciprocal visa exemptions with 29 countries. Additionally, travelers can now enjoy a 240-hour visa-free transit at 65 entry points nationwide.
U.S. travel content creator Raimee, who visited Beijing and Xi’an under the visa-free transit policy, described China as “extremely safe” and “incredibly convenient,” praising local services and planning to return for future trips.
Local authorities are also leveraging technology to improve the tourist experience. In Shenzhen, taxis now offer AI real-time translation in 140 languages, while Zhejiang’s “Zhejiang Travel” platform assists visitors with language and navigation challenges. Mobile payment services have also expanded, with Alipay partnering with 40 e-wallet providers in the Asia-Pacific region, enabling use at 150 million merchants.
Dai Bin, head of the China Tourism Academy, said these measures, along with coordinated improvements in visas, payments, and services, are ushering China’s inbound tourism into a new phase of rapid growth and high-quality development.
Outbound travel by Chinese residents also contributed to the record figure, totaling 335 million cross-border trips in 2025, up 15.1 percent from 2024. Expanded unilateral visa-free access for Chinese citizens now covers 28 countries.
Authorities have streamlined travel documentation processes, allowing residents in 50 cities to renew or replace exit and entry documents online. Over 457,000 applications were processed under these pilot programs, reducing administrative hurdles and encouraging travel.
Analysts say China’s growing inbound and outbound travel market is strengthening the country’s position in global tourism and emerging as a driver for international travel and shopping.
