China's cross-border travel hits record in 2025 on expanded visa-free access

BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- China saw a record 697 million inbound and outbound crossings in 2025, marking a 14.2 percent increase from the previous year, as the country's expanded visa-free and travel facilitation policies continued to boost international travel and promote people-to-people exchanges worldwide.

Inbound travel saw a notable rise. International visitors made over 82 million crossings, a 26.4 percent year-on-year increase. Over 73 percent of these international travelers benefited from China's visa exemption or visa-free transit policies, jumping 49.5 percent from the previous year, the National Immigration Administration said at a press briefing on Wednesday.

The rise was largely driven by the country's enhanced visa-free and travel facilitation measures. Latest data from the administration show that in 2025, China expanded its unilateral visa-free access, allowing citizens of 48 countries to enter without a visa, while the number of countries offering reciprocal visa exemptions rose to 29. Additionally, travelers can now take advantage of a 240-hour visa-free transit policy at 65 entry points.

Raimee, a U.S. travel content creator, traveled to Beijing and Xi'an in 2025 under the visa-free transit policy. After the trip, she shared her experiences on social media, including touring scenic spots, tasting local food and drinks, and entertaining in local karaoke rooms.

Describing China as "extremely safe" and "incredibly convenient," Raimee said she plans to return to China for future visits.

Her experience mirrors how policy-level openness is being matched by practical facilitation measures at the local level. To further enhance the travel experience, many regions in China are turning to technology and digital services to make international visits smoother and more convenient.

For instance, in the southern metropolis of Shenzhen, taxis are equipped with AI real-time translators supporting over 140 languages, while in Zhejiang, an intelligent platform called "Zhejiang Travel," powered by AI, helps visitors overcome language obstacles.

Mobile payment services have also become more convenient. As of September 2025, the international version of Alipay had partnered with 40 e-wallet providers across the Asia-Pacific region, allowing tourists to use their home payment apps at 150 million merchants across China.

As this series of facilitation measures continues to take effect, with coordinated improvements in visas, payments, consumption, products, and services, China's inbound tourism is entering a new phase of rapid growth and high-quality development, said Dai Bin, head of the China Tourism Academy.

Outbound travel also contributed to the record figure. Statistics from the administration showed that mainland residents accounted for 335 million cross-border trips, up 15.1 percent from 2024.

Outbound travel was also supported by a range of facilitation measures. For instance, the number of countries granting unilateral visa-free access to Chinese citizens has expanded to 28, said the administration.

To further promote cross-border exchanges, authorities expanded pilot programs allowing mainland residents to renew or replace exit and entry documents entirely online. The number of participating cities has increased to 50, processing over 457,000 applications, which streamlines administrative procedures.

Efficiencies at the administrative level are fueling stronger confidence and momentum in the travel market. Analysts say the country is poised to play an increasingly prominent role in global tourism, with China-bound travel and shopping expected to become new growth drivers for the international market. ■