State broadcaster CCTV reported on 23 February 2026 that China’s expanded roster of visa-free countries, combined with upgraded instant tax-refund technology, produced a boom in inbound tourism spending over the nine-day Lunar New Year break. Nanjing airport alone processed 7.6 million cross-border passengers, including more than 5,000 Canadians and Britons taking advantage of the brand-new visa waiver launched a week earlier.
![Visa Waivers Drive Record Foreign Arrivals During China’s ‘Spring Festival of Shopping’]()
Even with the growing list of visa-exempt nationalities, many travelers still need documentation before boarding a flight to China; VisaHQ can streamline the process by offering real-time eligibility checks, online applications and courier support, all accessible at https://www.visahq.com/china/ Whether you require a tourist L-visa, a multiple-entry business M-visa, or just want confirmation that the new waiver covers you, the platform gathers every requirement, fee and processing time in one place—saving you precious planning hours.
Traditional sites such as Xi’an’s Terracotta Warriors operated at full capacity, while duty-free retailers in Shanghai piloted a ‘buy-and-refund-on-the-spot’ system that delivers cash or digital rebates in under ten minutes. Customs officials said the Pudong Airport self-service kiosks handled 2,300 refund claims worth RMB 3.37 million between Lunar New Year’s Eve and the fourth day of the holiday — a 60 % increase on 2025. The synergy between easier entry and frictionless payments is reshaping visitor behaviour. Tourists are venturing beyond China’s tier-one cities to experience immersive cultural activities, from Tai Chi classes in Beijing’s parks to folk-opera tea sessions in Xiamen. Travel platforms note a 35 % rise in multi-city itineraries booked by first-time visitors, indicating growing confidence in domestic transport links and mobile-payment acceptance. For businesses, the influx translates into stronger footfall at hotels, F&B outlets and retail complexes that cater to foreign clientele. Luxury brand managers in Shanghai reported that same-store sales to overseas shoppers doubled year-on-year during the festival, aided by real-time currency conversion at the point of sale. Looking forward, analysts believe the holiday provides a test case for China’s wider ambition to hit 100 million foreign arrivals annually by 2027. Key to sustaining momentum will be the rollout of English-language digital arrival cards nationwide and further expansion of ‘immediate tax-refund’ pilot stores to inland provinces.
Even with the growing list of visa-exempt nationalities, many travelers still need documentation before boarding a flight to China; VisaHQ can streamline the process by offering real-time eligibility checks, online applications and courier support, all accessible at https://www.visahq.com/china/ Whether you require a tourist L-visa, a multiple-entry business M-visa, or just want confirmation that the new waiver covers you, the platform gathers every requirement, fee and processing time in one place—saving you precious planning hours.
Traditional sites such as Xi’an’s Terracotta Warriors operated at full capacity, while duty-free retailers in Shanghai piloted a ‘buy-and-refund-on-the-spot’ system that delivers cash or digital rebates in under ten minutes. Customs officials said the Pudong Airport self-service kiosks handled 2,300 refund claims worth RMB 3.37 million between Lunar New Year’s Eve and the fourth day of the holiday — a 60 % increase on 2025. The synergy between easier entry and frictionless payments is reshaping visitor behaviour. Tourists are venturing beyond China’s tier-one cities to experience immersive cultural activities, from Tai Chi classes in Beijing’s parks to folk-opera tea sessions in Xiamen. Travel platforms note a 35 % rise in multi-city itineraries booked by first-time visitors, indicating growing confidence in domestic transport links and mobile-payment acceptance. For businesses, the influx translates into stronger footfall at hotels, F&B outlets and retail complexes that cater to foreign clientele. Luxury brand managers in Shanghai reported that same-store sales to overseas shoppers doubled year-on-year during the festival, aided by real-time currency conversion at the point of sale. Looking forward, analysts believe the holiday provides a test case for China’s wider ambition to hit 100 million foreign arrivals annually by 2027. Key to sustaining momentum will be the rollout of English-language digital arrival cards nationwide and further expansion of ‘immediate tax-refund’ pilot stores to inland provinces.
