The introduction of facilitated entry and visa rules has helped China to see a large number of people entering and leaving the country for travel purposes, with travel activity surging.
Data has shown that during July and August, China’s border crossings surged by 30 percent compared to the previous year, with a total of 110 million entry-exit trips. This figure represents a 13 percent rise from the May-June period, VisaGuide.World reports.
Daily Border Crossings in China Reach 177 Million
As China Travel News explains, recent data provided by China’s National Immigration Administration revealed that during these two months, the country’s border authorities managed an average of 177 million crossings daily, reflecting the substantial growth.
The peak was reached on August 24, with 223 million trips in a single day, coming close to the historical maximum.
Notably, Chinese mainland residents made 55.381 million entry-exit trips, increasing by 28.1 percent year on year. A total of 44.032 million exit-entry trips were made by Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan residents, increasing by 27.6 percent year on year. The number of exit-entry trips of foreign nationals reached 10.89 million, indicating a 52.8 percent year-on-year rise.
In addition, 195 million foreign nationals (excluding border residents) entered China visa-free, a 117 percent increase from the previous year. Border inspection authorities also managed 5.64 million vehicle crossings—planes, trains, ships, and cars—a 32 percent rise compared to last year.
Air China Adds 113 International Routes Amid Summer Travel Surge
Previously, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism revealed that China saw a substantial rise in foreign visitors in the first two months of this year. At the same time, foreign travelers made 2.95 million trips to and from China, more than double the number recorded in November-December 2023. This figure marks 41.5 percent of the travel volume seen before the pandemic.
The summer travel season has seen a significant rebound in international travel. China Eastern Airlines international and regional flights have reached 102 percent of pre-pandemic levels from 2019, while Air China now operates 113 international routes.
Summer is our golden goose. We’re seeing 300,000 more customer visits per month than usual.
According to Zhan Fen from the China Academy of Civil Aviation Science and Technology, China’s air travel to Europe, Central Asia, and West Asia has surpassed pre-pandemic levels. Thus, airports such as Turpan Jiaohe, Liupanshui Yuezhao, and Wudalianchi Dedu have experienced over an 80 percent increase in passenger numbers this summer.