China Tourism Update — 2 August 2026
tourism • 2 August 2026
China’s latest travel picture for tourists is being shaped by **easier entry**, **strong inbound demand**, and **new rail and tourism products**. According to China Daily, China issued new exit-entry rules on 31 July that take effect on **15 September**, aimed at standardising applications, tightening some departure and arrival requirements, and regulating intermediary services[3]. In a separate update, China’s immigration authorities said they will further **refine visa-free transit and entry programmes** and expand digital border services, including smarter customs clearance and more online processing for foreign visitors[8]. For tourists already planning trips, the biggest practical shift is continued expansion of **visa-free access** and faster processing at the border. China now offers unilateral visa-free entry to nationals of **50 countries**, while nationals from **55 countries** can use the **240-hour visa-free transit** programme at **65 designated ports**, according to the State Council Information Office briefing reported by Xinhua[8]. Xinhua also said China is targeting **190 million inbound tourist visits by 2030** under a new five-year tourism plan, showing that inbound tourism remains a major policy focus[9]. On the ground, travel options are broadening beyond the big cities. ECNS reported that the first **China–Central Asia cultural tourism train** left Xi’an for Almaty on **5 July**, carrying **260 passengers** on a **16-day, 15-night** Silk Road journey[5]. China Travel News also highlighted strong summer travel activity, including a report that **Guangzhou Baiyun Airport** is strengthening its role as a global gateway after handling **10 million cross-border passengers**, and that inbound travel bookings on **Trip.com Group** rose by about **90% year-on-year** in Q1 2026[4]. For Australian travellers, the most useful takeaway is that China is currently combining simpler entry procedures with more flight, rail, and sightseeing options[8][5][4].