Who's packing their bags? 🧳 The latest numbers are in, and it looks like visiting the Chinese mainland is officially trending! During the five-day May Day holiday that just wrapped up this Tuesday, the world showed up in a big way.
According to data released by the National Immigration Administration (NIA) on Wednesday, over 436,000 international travelers entered the Chinese mainland visa-free. That's a massive 14.7% jump compared to the same time last year! 📈
So, why the surge? It's all about accessibility. The Chinese mainland has been making it way easier to visit, implementing unilateral visa-free policies for 50 countries and offering 240-hour transit visa-free arrangements for 55 others. Basically, the red carpet is rolled out for global explorers! 🌍✨
But the visa-free crowd was just part of the story. Total foreign arrivals hit 1.255 million, up 12.5% year on year. When you add in everyone else, border inspection agencies processed a staggering 11.279 million cross-border trips over the holiday. 🤯
The busiest day? May 2, which saw a peak of 2.529 million trips. From planes to trains and motor vehicles, the hustle was real—with 531,000 vehicle inspections registered, a 16.6% increase from the 2025 holiday period.
Whether it's for business, study, or just to experience the culture, the world is definitely feeling the pull of the Chinese mainland right now. Time to start planning your next adventure! 🗺️💬
Reference(s):
May Day break: Visa-free entries to China surge 14.7% to over 436,000
cgtn.com
