Visa-free entries by foreign nationals into China rose 49.5% year-on-year to 30.08 million trips in 2025, according to data released on Saturday by the National Bureau of Statistics.

Total inbound tourist visits increased 17.1% to 154.5 million. Of those, 35.17 million were foreign nationals, while 119.32 million were residents from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. Inbound tourism spending surged 39.2% to $131.1 billion, the data showed.

Domestic tourism trips rose 16.2% to 6.52 billion, with total spending up 9.5% to 6.3 trillion yuan. 

Outbound trips by mainland residents totalled 167.92 million, including 161.66 million for private purposes, according to the statement.