Beijing (TDI): China’s inbound tourism recorded a sharp rebound during the recent eight-day National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays, with relaxed visa rules and a diverse range of cultural events drawing millions of domestic and foreign travelers.
In Beijing, visitor numbers climbed to 25 million, generating about 31.65 billion yuan (roughly 4.45 billion US dollars) in tourism revenue, up 3.6 percent and 4.7 percent year on year, respectively, according to the municipal culture and tourism bureau.
The capital welcomed around 119,000 international visitors, marking a 48 percent increase compared to last year. Their total spending reached 1.23 billion yuan, up more than 54 percent year on year.
Major attractions such as the Palace Museum, Beijing Universal Resort, and the Great Wall’s Mutianyu and Badaling sections proved especially popular. Commercial areas like Sanlitun and Wangfujing saw heavy footfall, while sales at the city’s duty-free shops doubled from a year earlier, surpassing 22 million yuan.
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Beijing also hosted over 4,200 cultural and tourism activities and nearly 100 themed travel routes, including experiences centered on the Great Wall, Grand Canal, and the city’s Central Axis, offering both residents and tourists rich cultural immersion.
In Guangdong Province, a major gateway for international travelers, inbound tourism also surged, supported by China’s expanding visa-free entry policies. At Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, total inbound and outbound passenger volume had surpassed 350,000 by Wednesday noon, a 13 percent rise from the previous year.
Data from the National Immigration Administration (NIA) shows that citizens from 76 countries can now enjoy either unilateral or reciprocal visa-free access to China, while 55 nations qualify for transit exemptions of up to 10 days. The NIA estimated that daily border crossings averaged 2 million during the holiday period.
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To further support international visitors, China is also taking steps to remove digital payment barriers and deploy AI-powered translation services at airports and major tourist attractions, ensuring smoother experiences for travelers from around the world.
