China’s border authorities processed 369 million inbound and outbound crossings in the first six months of 2026, up 10.8 percent year-on-year and the highest half-year total on record, industry outlet ChinaTravelNews reported on 14 July, citing National Immigration Administration (NIA) data. Of the total, 45.9 million journeys were made by foreign nationals, a jump of more than 20 percent, while visa-free arrivals surged 30.6 percent to 17.8 million. The figures underscore the tangible impact of China’s expanding visa-free policies and restored flight capacity. Mainland residents accounted for 176 million trips, and travellers from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan made another 147 million crossings. The surge has put pressure on gateway airports—Shanghai Pudong handled over 2 million foreign entries under visa-free rules in H1 alone—and on land checkpoints where new “facial-plus-iris” fast lanes have been rolled out. For global mobility teams the data translate into busier queues but also stronger justification for resuming assignment rotations that were suspended during the pandemic. NIA says it will continue to digitalise processes; pilot self-service accommodation registration for foreigners in seven provinces has already reduced average police-station visits by 40 percent. Tourism boards are equally bullish. “Every percentage point increase in inbound arrivals generates roughly RMB 4 billion in direct tourism receipts,” notes Wu Liyuan of the China Tourism Academy. Airlines have responded with an 11 percent increase in scheduled international seats for Q3, according to OAG. Although the headline numbers signal normalisation, officials warned that smuggling and document fraud remain challenges. In H1 the NIA cracked 11,400 cross-border crime cases and dismantled 157 smuggling gangs. Corporates should remind travelling staff to carry proper documentation and observe the 24-/144-hour transit rules to avoid inadvertent breaches.
Source: ChinaTravelNews
