China’s strategic expansion of visa‑free entry policies—allowing up to 30-day stays for citizens of around 70–75 countries, plus 10-day transit exemptions via 60 designated ports—has propelled its tourism sector into an unprecedented recovery. In last year , more than 20 million foreign visitors entered visa‑free, doubling the previous year’s total and accounting for a 112 % increase year‑over‑year.
. In the first half of 2025, major cities such as Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu and Hainan saw surges of 40–120 % in international arrivals, with many entering under visa‑free regimes (e.g. Shanghai welcomed 2.6 million foreign visitors, including 1.4 million visa‑free).
What’s Behind the Visa-Free Frenzy?
China has been on a diplomatic charm offensive, expanding its visa-free policies to encourage tourism, trade, and cross-cultural exchange. And it’s working — big time.
Here’s the breakdown of the recent 4 China visa-free transformations:
- Indonesia has become a member of the 240-hour visa-free transit policy society, which currently comprises 55 countries. If travelers are transiting to another destination, they are permitted to explore the streets of Shanghai, Beijing, and other cities for a maximum of 10 days without a visa.
- A tropical jewel in Yunnan Province, Xishuangbanna, is now accessible to tourist groups from ASEAN countries without a visa, thanks to a recently implemented regional policy.
- Mutual visa waiver agreements were executed by China with Uzbekistan, Malaysia, and Azerbaijan.
- In a bold unilateral move, China has now extended visa-free access to nine additional nations: Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Peru, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait.
Total Border Movement Skyrockets:
Zooming out, the immigration numbers are equally thrilling. From January to June 2025, Chinese immigration authorities processed a jaw-dropping 333 million inbound and outbound trips — a 15.8% increase from last year.
- Mainland Chinese residents accounted for 159 million trips.
- Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan residents made 136 million trips, up 12.2%.
It’s clear: the borders are buzzing, airports are alive again, and China is reestablishing itself as a magnet for global movement.
What Does This Mean for Global Travelers?
If you have ever aspired to walk the Great Wall, indulge in street food in Chengdu, or finalize a cross-border business transaction in Guangzhou, this is your opportunity. China is currently providing travelers from all over the world with an unprecedented level of accessibility, reduced costs, and reduced bureaucracy.
And with the anticipation of additional visa-free agreements, the process of global mobility into China is becoming increasingly seamless.
Check Also: New Costs for Work Authorization and Travel Permits – USCIS Fee Update
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Frequently Asked Questions:
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What changes did China make to its visa policy in 2025?
China expanded visa‑free travel to 74–75 countries, allowing stays of up to 30 days for tourism, business, or family visits. It also introduced 240-hour (10‑day) transit visa exemptions at 60 ports across 24 provinces
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Which cities saw strong growth?
Shanghai: 2.6 million foreign visits in H1 2025 (+44.8% YoY), about 1.4 million via visa-free routes
Beijing: ~840,000 visa-free arrivals (double year-on-year) among 1.49 million total entries
Chengdu: 287,000 visa-free visits in H1 2025 (+120% YoY)
Hainan Province: 663,000 entries (+48%), with ~89% via visa-free access granted to citizens from 59 countries -
What broader economic impact has the policy had?
Tourism recovery is back to 70–80% of pre-COVID levels, with hopes for full recovery by end of 2025
The tourism sector is projected to contribute a record ¥13.7 trillion ($1.93 trillion) to GDP in 2025, supporting 83 million jobs
