China expects record 2.2 million border crossings per day during Dragon Boat Festival

With the three–day Dragon Boat Festival (June 22–24) only days away, China’s National Immigration Administration (NIA) says the country is bracing for the heaviest holiday traffic since the pandemic ended. In a briefing carried by China Central Television on 17 June, officials forecast an average 2.2 million inbound and outbound movements per day—up 11.7 percent on last year’s festival and roughly 95 percent of the 2019 baseline. The single-day peak could top 2.35 million. The rebound is driven by three converging factors. First, domestic demand for short-haul leisure trips has recovered strongly now that PCR testing and health-code checks have disappeared. Second, China’s unilateral visa-free scheme—recently extended to 50 countries—has begun to show dividends; inbound tour groups from Southeast Asia, Europe and the Middle East are selling out flights to Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou. Third, the holiday coincides with overseas Chinese returning home to visit family, as well as a sharp uptick in business-travel delegations ahead of the late-June trade-fair season. Corporate mobility managers should expect longer queues at the 32 busiest land, sea and air ports, despite the NIA’s pledge to keep passport-control wait times for Chinese nationals under 30 minutes. Airlines have been advised to open all available check-in counters, while seaports such as Xiamen and Qingdao will operate extended hours. Travellers holding the new 240-hour transit-without-visa (TWOV) approvals are reminded to carry printed itineraries; officials warned that incomplete documentation remains the top cause of refused boarding.



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The NIA also issued a health and security advisory. Chinese citizens heading overseas were urged to check destination entry rules, purchase medical insurance and avoid countries experiencing Ebola outbreaks. Foreigners planning self-drive holidays in China must carry attested driving-licence translations. Failure to do so can invalidate vehicle-rental agreements and delay onward travel. For multinationals, the headline numbers confirm that international mobility into and out of China has normalised. Organisations with large expatriate populations should brief employees on documentation checks, and consider flexible work arrangements on 25 June to absorb potential flight delays. Ports in the Greater Bay Area and Hainan Free Trade Port are trialling fast-track e-gates for APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) holders; companies may wish to register eligible staff in advance.