China’s visa-exemption agreements with Azerbaijan took effect today, while those with Malaysia and the Federated States of Micronesia will enter into force on July 17 and July 25, respectively. These seemingly small changes in visa policy underscore China’s unwavering commitment to advancing high-standard opening up to the world.

       Today (July 16), the National Immigration Administration held a press conference releasing its key statistics for the first half of 2025.

       During the first six months, immigration authorities nationwide inspected a total of 333 million inbound and outbound travelers, up 15.8 % year on year. The breakdown is as follows:

Mainland residents: 159 million trips, up 15.9 %

Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan residents: 136 million trips, up 12.2 %

Foreign nationals: 38.05 million trips, up 30.2 %

  In the first half of the year, 13.64 million foreign nationals entered China visa-free, a year-on-year increase of 53.9%  

       In the first half of the year, China introduced a visa-free policy for tour groups from ASEAN countries entering Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, and added Indonesia to the list of countries eligible for the 240-hour transit-without-visa policy. The National Immigration Administration, in close coordination with relevant authorities, advanced measures to facilitate payments, accommodation, and transportation for foreign visitors, effectively boosting people-to-people exchanges and economic cooperation between China and other countries. During the same period, 13.64 million foreign nationals entered China visa-free, accounting for 71.2 % of all inbound foreign arrivals and up 53.9 % year-on-year.

  The China–Azerbaijan mutual visa-exemption agreement takes effect today!  

      Under the agreement, holders of valid ordinary Chinese passports and ordinary Azerbaijani passports may enter, exit, or transit the other country without a visa for a single stay of up to 30 days and a cumulative stay not exceeding 90 days within any 180-day period. The policy dividends flow both ways, making openness ever more concentrated.

“China Travel” has become the new global travel trend  

       In recent years, China’s “visa-free circle of friends” has grown rapidly. To date, the number of countries enjoying China’s unilateral visa exemption and transit visa exemption has risen to 47 and 55, respectively. “China Travel” is now a viral sensation worldwide, emerging as the must-try trend for global travelers and sparking a wave of diverse travel cultures.

  Inbound travel heats up again this summer, with family trips and study tours becoming the most sought-after choices  

       With summer in full swing, inbound tourism is surging once again. Cities across China are tapping into their rich historical and cultural heritage to roll out a host of distinctive cultural-tourism programs, offering foreign visitors a comprehensive and immersive travel experience.

       Beijing has curated six themed summer itineraries for inbound travelers, including a historical and cultural study tour, a technology-exploration study tour, and a dual-Olympic legacy discovery route. In addition, the Palace Museum is offering special foreign-language “Secrets of the Forbidden City” sessions.

       Shanghai is rolling out ten flagship events for the season—spanning summer vacations, family fun, cultural tourism, and sports consumption—such as the International Animation Month and the Shanghai Tourism Festival’s summer edition, giving overseas visitors an immersive taste of the city’s multicultural vibe.

       Xi’an has launched the “Meet in Chang’an, Embrace the Future” summer camp, bringing 40 overseas Chinese youths from countries like Ireland and Australia. Through hands-on courses such as Qin-opera mask painting and archaeological digs at the ancient Han capital, the program fosters a deeper connection to cultural roots.

“Make sure you pack an empty suitcase for China!” has gone viral overseas  

     “Pack an empty suitcase for China!” is now trending on overseas social media. More and more foreign travelers are arriving in China ready to “buy, buy, buy,” showcasing the global appeal of Chinese goods.
       This year, China has rolled out additional incentives: the “instant tax-refund on departure” service has expanded from pilot zones to the entire country; the minimum purchase amount eligible for VAT refund on departure was lowered from RMB 500 to RMB 200; the cash-refund cap was raised from RMB 10,000 to RMB 20,000; and the number of participating tax-refund stores keeps growing … The “sightseeing + shopping spree” combo has travelers raving, “It’s absolutely worth it!”
       Source: Compiled by the Zhejiang Council for the Promotion of International Trade, based on CCTV News and Guangdong News.