China Tourism Update — 21 October 2026
tourism • 21 October 2026
China’s visa-free programme continues to make travel easier for international visitors, with **8.99 million visa-free entries recorded in the third quarter of 2026**, up 24.1 per cent year on year. Xinhua reports that visa-free arrivals represented 77.5 per cent of all foreign-national entries during the period, while China now offers unilateral visa-free access to travellers from 50 countries, with eligible visitors generally able to stay for up to 30 days.[1] China’s wider inbound travel activity is also growing. Foreign nationals made **23.27 million border crossings between July and September**, a 15.6 per cent annual increase, according to the National Immigration Administration.[1] Travellers should check the latest eligibility rules before booking, as visa-free access depends on nationality, passport type, purpose of travel and length of stay. A separate update expands China’s **240-hour visa-free transit scheme to 57 countries**. Travel and Tour World reports that Vietnamese and Kyrgyz citizens can also enter Hainan through approved international ports and stay visa-free for up to 30 days, provided they remain within Hainan.[2] Australian travellers should confirm whether their itinerary qualifies for transit entry or whether a standard visa is required, particularly when planning multi-city trips across mainland China.Sources
- https://english.news.cn/20261020/b7fcb3527e09406d82e3e3333ef5c0d5/c.html
- https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/8s0zstpq4ex8/
- https://www.thetraveler.org/us-adds-wrongful-detention-warning-to-china-travel-advice/
- https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202610/16/WS6ad18fe1e4b06d4aa05632a6.html
- http://english.scio.gov.cn/m/pressroom/2026-10/20/content_118741416.html