Fresh statistics released by the State Council Information Office show that China’s border check-points processed 185 million entries and exits between January and March 2026, up 13.5 % on the same quarter last year. The sharpest growth came from foreign nationals, whose 21.33 million crossings mark a return to roughly 80 % of pre-pandemic levels. Officials credit an expanding roster of visa-free arrangements, simplified online customs declarations and dedicated fast lanes for exhibition delegates.
![China handles 185 million cross-border trips in Q1 as business travel rebound accelerates]()
For travellers still trying to determine whether they qualify for the new visa-free schemes—or need a traditional visa instead—VisaHQ provides an easy online tool to check requirements, prepare documentation and even arrange courier collection of passports. The company’s China page (https://www.visahq.com/china/) is updated daily with policy changes and can streamline group or corporate applications, ensuring trips stay on schedule as regulations evolve.
Mainland residents logged 91.66 million trips, underscoring a revival in outbound incentive travel and regional manufacturing supply-chain visits. Corporate travel agencies report that seat capacity on key regional routes—Tokyo, Bangkok, Singapore—has reached 95 % of 2019 levels, while fares have stabilised. Demand from the Greater Bay Area is particularly strong as semiconductor and EV firms reconnect with overseas partners. For multinationals, the numbers translate into shorter approval cycles for work permits. Pilot one-stop “Mobil-China” counters in Shanghai and Shenzhen cut formalities for intra-company transferees from 20 to 7 working days and have so far issued 3,500 work authorisations this year. The Ministry of Commerce says it will replicate the model in ten additional cities before July. Cross-border cargo movement also improved, with 10.1 million transport vehicles cleared—an 18.9 % increase that helps ease upstream supply-chain pressures. At Xiamen port, new “green channels” allow time-critical components to clear customs in two hours, benefiting electronics manufacturers who have lobbied for faster parts turnover. While the momentum is positive, authorities warned of seasonal bottlenecks around Labour Day (1–5 May) when daily passenger volumes could hit 2.8 million. Companies should advise travellers to complete online health-declarations and carry printed itineraries for random spot checks introduced after a cluster of measles cases imported from abroad.
For travellers still trying to determine whether they qualify for the new visa-free schemes—or need a traditional visa instead—VisaHQ provides an easy online tool to check requirements, prepare documentation and even arrange courier collection of passports. The company’s China page (https://www.visahq.com/china/) is updated daily with policy changes and can streamline group or corporate applications, ensuring trips stay on schedule as regulations evolve.
Mainland residents logged 91.66 million trips, underscoring a revival in outbound incentive travel and regional manufacturing supply-chain visits. Corporate travel agencies report that seat capacity on key regional routes—Tokyo, Bangkok, Singapore—has reached 95 % of 2019 levels, while fares have stabilised. Demand from the Greater Bay Area is particularly strong as semiconductor and EV firms reconnect with overseas partners. For multinationals, the numbers translate into shorter approval cycles for work permits. Pilot one-stop “Mobil-China” counters in Shanghai and Shenzhen cut formalities for intra-company transferees from 20 to 7 working days and have so far issued 3,500 work authorisations this year. The Ministry of Commerce says it will replicate the model in ten additional cities before July. Cross-border cargo movement also improved, with 10.1 million transport vehicles cleared—an 18.9 % increase that helps ease upstream supply-chain pressures. At Xiamen port, new “green channels” allow time-critical components to clear customs in two hours, benefiting electronics manufacturers who have lobbied for faster parts turnover. While the momentum is positive, authorities warned of seasonal bottlenecks around Labour Day (1–5 May) when daily passenger volumes could hit 2.8 million. Companies should advise travellers to complete online health-declarations and carry printed itineraries for random spot checks introduced after a cluster of measles cases imported from abroad.
