China saw a record 697 million cross-border trips in 2025, up 14.2% year-on-year, according to data released on Wednesday by the National Immigration Administration (NIA).
Chinese mainland residents accounted for 335 million crossings, an increase of 15.1% from a year earlier, while Chinese Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan residents made 279 million crossings, up 10.1%.
Crossings by foreign nationals totaled 82.04 million, rising 26.4% year-on-year. Of those, 30.08 million entered China visa-free, representing 73.1% of all foreign arrivals and an increase of 49.5% from the previous year, a NIA spokesperson said.
The figures mark the highest annual level of border crossings on record and reflect a strong recovery in international travel, supported by expanded visa-free policies and streamlined border procedures, the agency said.
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