China’s cross-border travel volume reached a historic peak last year. The National Immigration Administration released the official 2025 data on Wednesday. Authorities processed an unprecedented six hundred ninety-seven million record trips. Consequently, this total reflects a substantial annual increase of fourteen point two percent. This milestone firmly establishes a new high for international mobility.
Mainland residents themselves accounted for three hundred thirty-five million journeys. That specific segment grew by over fifteen percent from the prior year. Meanwhile, travelers from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan made two hundred seventy-nine million trips. Furthermore, foreign nationals entered China more than eighty-two million times. Inbound travel by foreigners surged by twenty-six point four percent.
A major expansion of visa-free policies powered this growth. Specifically, thirty million foreign entries utilized visa-free channels. That figure represents seventy-three percent of all foreign arrivals. Subsequently, this strategic easing significantly reduced entry barriers. The administration also issued over twenty million new ordinary passports.
Officials implemented concrete measures to facilitate this movement. They expanded an online document renewal pilot to fifty cities. Moreover, China added Indonesia to a key transit visa-free program. The government also enacted a visa-free policy for ASEAN tour groups.
These coordinated actions directly fueled the surge in record trips. China additionally broadened its unilateral visa-free country list. The nation also increased mutual visa-exemption agreements with partners. Therefore, these steps systematically encouraged more international visitors.
The heightened travel carries major economic and diplomatic importance. Increased crossings boost tourism, aviation, and related service industries. They also strengthen global business and cultural connections. The data confirms a robust recovery in worldwide movement patterns.
Industry analysts view the statistics as a critical gauge of openness. The policies actively foster more people-to-people exchanges internationally. However, managing such high volume requires continued infrastructure investment. Ports and airports must now process travelers efficiently and securely.
Looking ahead, authorities plan to further simplify entry procedures. The administration aims to grant more nations unilateral visa-free entry. Future goals include raising that specific number to twenty-eight countries. Such continued facilitation will likely sustain high travel volumes.
The historic activity underscores a clear strategic national priority. Enabling consistent record trips remains central to China’s global engagement. These flows underpin broader trade, investment, and international influence. Consequently, monitoring these trends provides critical insight into China’s external posture.
The National Immigration Administration will continue providing regular updates. Observers will monitor shifts in visitor origins and purposes closely. Future policy adjustments will address this evolving mobility landscape. The current momentum appears strongly positive for global connectivity.
