Fresh statistics released by Xinhua News Agency on 7 March confirm that China’s post-pandemic reopening is firmly on track. Minister Sun Yeli told reporters that inbound visits reached 150.3 million in 2025, a jump of 17 percent on 2024 and the highest since records began. Crucially, 30.2 million of those arrivals—one in five—came via newly introduced unilateral or reciprocal visa-free programmes covering 50 nationalities.
Spending data are equally eye-catching: inbound visitors shelled out RMB 950 billion (US$130 billion), while mobile-payment transactions topped RMB 80 billion as foreign users embraced QR-code wallets. The ministry attributes the boom to successive visa-waiver extensions for European Union members, the United Kingdom, Canada and most recently New Zealand.
![Inbound Figures Surge: 30 Million Visa-Free Entries Drive Record 150 Million Visits]()
Travelers eager to seize these looser entry rules—or who still need a traditional visa—can simplify the process through VisaHQ. The service’s China portal (https://www.visahq.com/china/) provides instant eligibility checks, digital application tools and live support, letting tourists and corporate assignees manage every requirement from a single dashboard.
Break-out social-media trends such as “becoming Chinese”—in which visitors document hotpot pilgrimages and high-speed-rail adventures—have amplified China’s soft-power appeal. Analysts at Dragon Trail International say the statistics strengthen the case for further waivers covering the United States and India, a move the aviation sector is lobbying for ahead of the summer slot conferences.
For global employers the numbers translate into shorter lead times for assignment moves and lower compliance costs. However, mobility teams are advised to keep a close eye on provincial implementation: some border ports still require printed hotel bookings, and WeChat Pay real-name verification can take 24 hours for first-time users.
Spending data are equally eye-catching: inbound visitors shelled out RMB 950 billion (US$130 billion), while mobile-payment transactions topped RMB 80 billion as foreign users embraced QR-code wallets. The ministry attributes the boom to successive visa-waiver extensions for European Union members, the United Kingdom, Canada and most recently New Zealand.
Travelers eager to seize these looser entry rules—or who still need a traditional visa—can simplify the process through VisaHQ. The service’s China portal (https://www.visahq.com/china/) provides instant eligibility checks, digital application tools and live support, letting tourists and corporate assignees manage every requirement from a single dashboard.
Break-out social-media trends such as “becoming Chinese”—in which visitors document hotpot pilgrimages and high-speed-rail adventures—have amplified China’s soft-power appeal. Analysts at Dragon Trail International say the statistics strengthen the case for further waivers covering the United States and India, a move the aviation sector is lobbying for ahead of the summer slot conferences.
For global employers the numbers translate into shorter lead times for assignment moves and lower compliance costs. However, mobility teams are advised to keep a close eye on provincial implementation: some border ports still require printed hotel bookings, and WeChat Pay real-name verification can take 24 hours for first-time users.
