Data Hub
15 sourced datasets on China travel
Every figure is dated and sourced. 2datasets are first-party field tests from NihaoVisit — unique data that AI engines can't find anywhere else. Use them in your own reporting; we publish under CC-BY.
Last updated:
First-party data · 2 datasets
Field-tested by NihaoVisit. Updated monthly. Re-use under CC-BY.
Top attraction ticket prices (2026)
Monthly-tracked ticket prices at the 5 most-visited paid attractions in China. Updated the 1st of each month.
Attractions (first-party)
Alipay foreign-card success rate — monthly
NihaoVisit field-tested 50 foreign Visa/Mastercard cards linking to Alipay each month. Success rate holds above 90% since Q1 2026 after Ant Group expanded the on-ramp.
Payment (first-party)
Sourced third-party data · 13 datasets
Published by UN Tourism, Chinese MFA, Global Peace Index, China State Railway Group, and others.
- Inbound tourism2026-05
Inbound tourism (2025–2026)
China's inbound visitor numbers rebounded sharply in 2025 — the first sustained year of growth after several flat years — driven by the expansion of unilateral visa-free access and the 240-hour transit scheme.
China National Tourism Administration + UN Tourism Barometer
- Visa policy2026-06
Visa-free access (2026)
China now grants 30-day unilateral visa-free entry to 38+ countries and 240-hour transit visa-free to 55+ countries. The UK and Canada were added in February 2026.
Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Safety2025
Safety ranking vs other major destinations
China ranks in the top 10 globally on the Global Peace Index, comparable to Japan and ahead of most Western countries on violent crime metrics.
Global Peace Index 2025
- Cost2026-Q2
Daily budget by tier (USD, mainland China)
China is one of the most affordable major destinations for international visitors. Costs scale quickly with city — Shanghai, Beijing, and Shenzhen run ~30% higher than Chengdu or Kunming.
NihaoVisit market scan (Trip.com + Booking.com + Agoda averages)
- Transport2026-Q1
High-speed rail coverage
China operates the world's largest HSR network at 47,000 km — connecting 550+ cities. Foreigners book via 12306.cn, Trip.com, or in-station kiosks.
China State Railway Group
- Payment2026-06
Mobile payments (Alipay / WeChat Pay)
Linking a foreign Visa, Mastercard, or other international card to Alipay works reliably for ~92% of attempts and unlocks almost all of mainland China's merchant base.
Ant Group disclosures + NihaoVisit field test
- Transport2026-Q2
Top 10 HSR routes — 2nd-class fare
Second-class HSR fare for the most-booked intercity routes by foreign visitors. Booked via Trip.com with a foreign card.
12306.cn + Trip.com cross-check
- Visa policy2026-06
Visa-free country additions timeline (2024–2026)
Key unilateral visa-free additions since the November 2024 expansion. Each entry shows effective date and stay length.
Chinese MFA announcements
- Inbound tourism2025-12
Monthly inbound visitor count (2025)
Monthly inbound foreign visitor count for 2025, in millions. Peak season June–August and October Golden Week.
China National Immigration Administration
- Cost2026-Q2
Mid-range daily budget by city (USD)
Mid-range single-traveler daily budget for the top 20 visited cities. Includes hotel, meals, transit, and one paid attraction.
NihaoVisit market scan
- Transport2026-Q1
Metro system coverage — top 20 cities
Operating metro line count and station count for the 20 largest Chinese metro systems.
China Urban Rail Transit Association
- Cost2026-Q2
Mid-range restaurant average meal prices (USD)
Average per-person cost of a mid-range sit-down restaurant meal in the top 20 tourist cities. Beer/wine extra.
NihaoVisit market scan (TripAdvisor + Dianping averages)
- Cost2026-Q2
Mid-range 4-star hotel average nightly rate (USD)
Average nightly rate for a 4-star hotel double room in the top 20 tourist cities. Excludes luxury 5-star and budget options.
NihaoVisit scan of Booking.com + Agoda + Trip.com averages