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China Travel Statistics 2026: The Numbers Behind the Boom
The short answer: China hosted 35.17 million foreign visitors in 2025 (+30.6%), who spent $131.1 billion (+39.2%). Nearly three-quarters of entries were visa-free. In H1 2026, foreign arrivals kept climbing (+20.4%). The WTTC projects international visitor spending in China will reach 1.5 trillion yuan by 2035.
Headline Numbers (Official, 2025)
| Metric | 2025 figure | YoY |
|---|---|---|
| Total inbound trips (incl. HK/Macau/Taiwan) | 154.5 million | +17.1% |
| Foreign visitors (excl. HK/Macau/Taiwan) | 35.17 million | +30.6% |
| Total inbound spending | $131.1 billion | +39.2% |
| Visa-free foreign entries | 30.08 million | +49.5% |
| Inbound mobile-payment spending | ~80 billion yuan | — |
*Sources: Ministry of Culture and Tourism 2025 statistical communiqué; National Immigration Administration.*
2026 So Far
| Period | Foreign arrivals | YoY |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 2026 | 21.33 million | +22.3% |
| H1 2026 | 22.91 million | +20.4% |
Visa-free entries in H1 2026 reached 17.82 million — 77.7% of all foreign arrivals.
Top Source Countries (H1 2026, NIA)
- South Korea
- Russia
- Malaysia
- Vietnam
- Thailand
- Singapore
- United States
- Japan
- Mongolia
- Australia
*(The top 10 account for 62% of foreign arrivals.)*
Country Deep-Dives
- South Korea: ~3.16 million trips in 2025 (+36.9%), the #1 source market; Shanghai alone saw 909,000 Korean visitors (+103.6%).
- Russia: 2.47 million trips in 2025 (+30.1%) — the fastest-growing major market; Ctrip bookings +205%.
- Europe (summer 2026): European orders +275% YoY, attraction tickets +20x; Russia +553%, UK/France/Germany combined +150%.
- France: spending +160% on Ctrip — the highest-spending growth among Western markets.
- Australia: +34% visitor growth; China entered its top-5 favorite destinations.
Forecasts
- 2026: China Tourism Academy expects another double-digit growth year;
- 2035 (WTTC): tourism's total contribution to China's economy to exceed 27 trillion yuan (~14% of GDP); international visitor spending to reach ~1.5 trillion yuan;
- Structural gap: inbound tourism revenue is still <0.5% of China's GDP vs 10%+ in Thailand and 1–3% in Western countries — the upside is the story.
Why These Numbers Matter for Your Trip
- Demand is concentrating on visa-free, rail-connected cities — book trains and hotels earlier than you think;
- Mobile payments are now the norm (80B yuan spent by inbound travelers in 2025) — set up Alipay before you land;
- Peak seasons are tightening: April–May and September–October see the highest arrivals.
*Last updated: August 18, 2026. Sources: MOT statistical communiqué (June 2026), NIA press conferences, Ctrip annual reports, WTTC. We update this page monthly.*
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