China Tourism Update — 23 September 2026
tourism • 23 September 2026
China’s latest travel updates for tourists are centred on **easier entry**, **more flight options**, and **stronger rail and holiday travel capacity**. According to China Daily, China has expanded its **240-hour visa-free transit programme to 57 countries**, while China’s immigration authorities reported **23.72 million visa-free entries** in the first eight months of 2026, showing continued growth in inbound travel.[5][6] For practical trip planning, China now allows foreign visitors staying outside hotels to **register accommodation online** rather than visiting a police station, which should make arrivals smoother.[8] China Southern Airlines is also restoring and adding routes, including **Guangzhou–New Delhi** from **21 September** and **Shenzhen–Sydney** from **14 December**, giving Australian travellers more options for direct travel into southern China.[7] Domestic travel demand remains very strong ahead of the **Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holiday**, with China Daily reporting flight searches up **278% month-on-month** and domestic flight bookings up **more than 40% year-on-year** as of 14 September.[16] China’s rail network also handled a record **3.32 billion passenger trips** in the first eight months of 2026, including **16.68 million trips by foreign passengers**, which suggests high capacity and active service planning for tourists across the country.[17]