China Tourism Update — 26 August 2026

tourism • 26 August 2026

China’s latest tourist-friendly updates are mostly about **easier entry options**, **better airport and city services**, and **closer document checks**. According to China Daily, **Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam** were added on **20 August** to China’s **240-hour visa-free transit** scheme, bringing the total to **57 countries**, while the **Hainan 30-day visa-free entry** list expanded to **61 countries**.[6][9] For Australian travellers, the practical takeaway is that **visa-free and transit options remain available**, but your paperwork needs to match your actual travel purpose. A new entry-exit regulation due on **15 September** will allow authorities to refuse entry or impose bans if travellers provide false information, and it also reinforces checks on visas, invitations and travel devices in security-related cases.[1][5] There are also signs that China is improving the on-ground visitor experience. Xinhua reported that **Shanghai has installed 100 AI-powered tourist terminals** for directions, translation, attraction suggestions and ticket bookings, and CGTN said **Beijing ports have processed more than 15 million cross-border trips this year**, up **9% year on year**, which points to continued recovery in international travel demand.[7][8]

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