Annual Report
China Travel Trends 2026
The data behind China\'s inbound tourism rebound in 2025-2026. Sourced from official Chinese government data, industry reports, and NihaoVisit field testing.
Last updated:
TL;DR
China\'s inbound tourism rebounded sharply in 2025 (132.5M visitors, +12.5% YoY) and is forecast to reach 145-150M in 2026. The drivers: expanded visa-free access (now 38+ countries), 240-hour transit program, and the world\'s most extensive HSR network making multi-city trips easy.
Key statistics 2025-2026
Inbound visitors 2025
132.5 million
+12.5% YoY
Forecast 2026
145–150 million
+9–13%
Visa-free share of foreign arrivals
~62%
+18 pp YoY
Average length of stay (foreign leisure)
7.3 nights
+0.4 nights YoY
Countries visa-free (30 days)
38+
+8 since 2023
HSR network total length
45,000+ km
World's largest
Mobile payment adoption (urban)
>85%
Alipay + WeChat Pay
Avg daily spend (mid-range foreign tourist)
$100–150
Stable
Sources: China National Tourism Administration, National Immigration Administration, China Railway, NihaoVisit field data.
The five biggest trends
1. Visa-free expansion is the single biggest driver
China expanded unilateral visa-free access from 0 countries in 2023 to 38+ by mid-2026. The UK and Canada were added in February 2026. The 240-hour transit program (10 days) was also expanded to 60+ ports. Together, these account for nearly all of the 2025 inbound tourism growth.
What this means for travelers: For most Western passport holders, no visa application is needed. The remaining bottleneck is Alipay setup and the VPN — both solved in 30 minutes before flying.
2. HSR makes multi-city trips easy
China\'s 45,000+ km HSR network is the world\'s largest. Beijing to Shanghai is 4.5 hours. Shanghai to Hangzhou is 1 hour. Most major tourist cities are connected. The classic 10-day Beijing + Xi\'an + Shanghai route is now accessible to anyone, with Trip.com making English booking possible.
3. Mobile payment is now universal — for foreigners too
Alipay\'s Tour Card (since 2019) and WeChat Pay now accept foreign Visa and Mastercard. Over 85% of urban merchants use mobile payment. Foreign travelers who set up Alipay before flying can navigate China almost cash-free.
4. Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities are emerging
Beyond the Golden Triangle (Beijing, Xi\'an, Shanghai), destinations like Chengdu, Guilin, Zhangjiajie, Harbin, and Xiamen are seeing double-digit growth. Niche destinations like Kashgar, Dunhuang, and Wuyuan are gaining traction with experienced travelers.
5. The Chinese travel market is reopening to independent travel
Group tours are giving way to independent and semi-independent travel. Tour operators now offer private guides and customizable itineraries. Sites like Trip.com, Klook, and Tmall Global make booking individual components easy.
Data sources
- National Immigration Administration (NIA) — visa-free and 240-hour transit data
- Ministry of Culture and Tourism — inbound tourism statistics
- UN World Tourism Organization — international comparison
- China Railway 12306 — HSR network data
- NihaoVisit Data Hub — interactive data tables