Fresh data released by Shanghai’s Municipal Port Office show that China welcomed 22.91 million foreign nationals in the first half of 2026, a 20.4 % year-on-year increase. Remarkably, 17.82 million—or 77.7 %—took advantage of Beijing’s unilateral visa-waiver schemes, underlining how central the policy has become to the country’s tourism and business-travel rebound. Shanghai logged 5.31 million foreign visitors (+27.8 %), while Beijing counted 3.27 million (+32.6 %). Tier-two cities such as Chongqing (+56.8 %) also saw impressive growth, suggesting that experience-driven travellers are venturing beyond traditional gateways. Industry analysts quoted in the report highlight a shift from “seeing China” to “experiencing China,” with visitors seeking immersive neighbourhood tours, design-led retail and contemporary cultural events. For corporate mobility programs the numbers reinforce the importance of visa-free entry as a facilitator of short-notice travel. Multinational firms are using the 30-day waiver to schedule rapid project kick-offs and client visits without the administrative lead time a visa normally requires. However, HR teams must track eligibility carefully; the waivers prohibit employment activities and limit total stay days per entry. The data also strengthen Shanghai’s pitch as China’s de-facto business-mobility hub. City officials are promoting “package” itineraries that combine trade-fair attendance with cultural add-ons to extend average length of stay—an approach that could further boost the MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions) segment.
