Visa-free arrivals to China jump 14.7 % over May Day break
Zhejiang opens all six ports to 240-hour transit visa-waiver and rolls out expat-friendly services
Air China inaugurates Chongqing–Manila service as Philippines waives visas for Chinese visitors
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Visa-free arrivals hit 436,000 during China’s May Day break, up 14.7 % year-on-year
New NIA statistics show 436,000 foreigners—up 14.7 % on 2025—entered China visa-free over the May Day holiday, helping push total foreign arrivals to 1.255 million. The numbers highlight how China’s expanded visa-waiver roster is shortening lead times for business trips and reigniting inbound spending.
Zhejiang opens all six ports to 240-hour visa-free transit and upgrades services for foreign business travelers
Zhejiang has added Wenzhou, Zhoushan and Yiwu to China’s 240-hour visa-free transit scheme, meaning all six provincial ports now grant 10-day, visa-free stays to travellers from 55 countries. The province is backing the policy with 25 local visa offices, 43 immigration service centres and airport one-stop shops that help foreigners arrange mobile payments, banking and SIM cards. The changes aim to boost trade and tourism and make it easier for multinationals to route executives through the Yangtze River Delta.
China processes 11.28 million border crossings over May Day, keeps queues under 30 minutes
Chinese ports processed 11.279 million cross-border trips during the 1-5 May holiday, with daily volumes up 3.5 % year-on-year. The National Immigration Administration opened extra lanes to keep immigration queues under 30 minutes, a positive signal for firms moving staff and equipment through China’s major airports and land borders.