China Tourism Update — 1 September 2026

tourism • 1 September 2026

China’s latest tourist-friendly travel news centres on **easier entry**, **stronger inbound demand**, and **better on-the-ground services**. According to China Travel News and other Chinese media reports, the biggest recent update is that China expanded its **240-hour visa-free transit** scheme to **Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam** on **20 August**, lifting the number of eligible nationalities to **57**; Hainan’s **30-day visa-free** entry list now covers **61 countries**.[1][7][17] For Australian travellers, the practical takeaway is that China is still widening **visa-free and transit options**, but your trip details need to match the rules exactly. China Daily and Xinhua reporting also show inbound travel is rebounding strongly: Beijing ports handled **more than 15 million entry-exit trips** by late August, with **foreign arrivals up 31.6%** to **4.88 million**, and China’s first-half 2026 inbound foreign visits reached **22.91 million**, up **20.4%** year on year.[7][11] Another useful update is that China is improving the visitor experience once you arrive. Xinhua and local tourism reporting say Shanghai has installed **100 AI-powered tourist terminals** for directions, translation, attraction suggestions and ticket bookings, which should make city travel easier for international visitors.[2][4] The same reporting notes new **entry-and-exit regulations** are due from **15 September**, so travellers should ensure their passport, visa or transit eligibility, and stated travel purpose all line up cleanly with their itinerary.[2][4]

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