China records 7.9-pct growth in cross-border trips in Q3

BEIJING, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese border authorities handled 192 million entries and exits in the third quarter of 2026, up 7.9 percent from a year earlier, officials said on Tuesday.

Foreign nationals made 23.27 million border crossings from July to September, up 15.6 percent year on year, according to the National Immigration Administration.

People are seen in Beijing Capital International Airport, Beijing, capital of China, August 9, 2026. (Photo: VCG)

Visa-free entries by foreign nationals reached 8.99 million, accounting for 77.5 percent of all entries by foreign nationals, a 24.1 percent increase year on year.

Since December 2023, when China launched a trial policy granting unilateral visa exemptions to visitors from six countries, it has expanded unilateral visa-free entry to travelers from 50 countries as of September. The policy allows eligible visitors to stay for up to 30 days.

It also extended the visa-free transit period for certain countries from 72 or 144 hours to 240 hours in December 2024. There are 57 eligible countries so far