China saw a notable increase in inbound tourism during the eight-day National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, driven by visa facilitation policies and a rich variety of cultural events. Beijing welcomed 25 million visitors, generating 31.65 billion yuan (about 4.45 billion USD) in tourism revenue — a year-on-year increase of 3.6% and 4.7%, respectively. The city hosted around 119,000 foreign visitors, marking a 48% surge from last year, with their total spending reaching 1.23 billion yuan. Popular attractions such as the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, and Sanlitun drew large crowds, while more than 4,200 cultural and tourism events further enriched the holiday experience for both domestic and international tourists.
A similar rise was observed in Guangdong Province, a major hub in southern China. The number of travelers entering and leaving through Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport exceeded 350,000 — up 13% from the previous year. The visa-free travel policy for Russian citizens, implemented on September 15, significantly boosted foreign arrivals. According to the National Immigration Administration (NIA), citizens from 76 countries are now eligible for unilateral or mutual visa-free entry, and travelers from 55 countries can transit through China visa-free for up to 10 days. To make travel smoother, China is also simplifying payment systems and introducing AI-powered translation tools at airports and tourist attractions nationwide.