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

Chinese border authorities handled 192 million entries and exits in the third quarter of 2026, up 7.9% from a year earlier, officials said on Tuesday.

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

Visa-free entries by foreign nationals reached 8.99 million, accounting for 77.5% of all entries by foreign nationals, a 24.1% 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. Currently, 57 countries are eligible.