Home » CHINA TRAVEL NEWS » China Inbound Tourism Surge 2026: Record-Breaking Spring Festival Travel & Visa-Free Trends

Published on
February 15, 2026

In 2026, the global travel map has been redrawn, with China emerging as the world’s most sought-after destination for the Lunar New Year. According to the latest data released on February 14, 2026, by the National Immigration Administration (NIA) and major tourism platforms, the “Spring Festival in China” is no longer just a homecoming for locals—it is a global cultural phenomenon.

Driven by a record-long nine-day holiday and a groundbreaking suite of visa-free policies, inbound tourism has reached heights never before seen in the post-pandemic era. Here is the definitive guide to the 2026 Spring Festival travel surge.

For centuries, the Spring Festival has been the “world’s largest human migration,” as millions of Chinese citizens travel home for reunions. But in 2026, the migration had gone global. For the first time, international tourists are joining the rush in record numbers, turning the traditional “Chunyun” into an international travel gala.

The Massive Scale: 2.05 Million Daily Crossings

The sheer volume of movement is difficult to fathom. The NIA projects that during the nine-day holiday (February 15–23), average daily cross-border passenger flows will exceed 2.05 million movements. This is a 14.1% increase over 2025, signaling a full-throttle recovery and expansion of China’s international appeal.

Major aviation hubs are bearing the brunt of this enthusiasm:

Shanghai Pudong: 104,000 daily passengers.Guangzhou Baiyun: 57,000 daily passengers.Beijing Capital: 43,000 daily passengers.The “Visa-Free” Revolution

The primary engine behind this surge is China’s unprecedented openness. By early 2026, China has expanded its unilateral visa-free entry scheme to 48 countries and mutual exemptions to 29 countries.

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Perhaps even more impactful is the upgraded 240-hour (10-day) transit visa-free policy, now available to citizens of 55 countries across 65 entry ports. This has effectively turned “layovers” into “mini-vacations.” Travelers from Europe, particularly the UK, Netherlands, and Spain, have seen booking volumes more than double as the “headache” of visa applications has been completely removed for short-term visits.

Why They’re Coming: The “Experience Economy”

In 2026, tourists aren’t just visiting sites; they are seeking immersion. Data from Fliggy and Trip.com shows a 400% jump in flight bookings to China by foreign passport holders during the festival period.

The “New Global Trend” is characterized by three major themes:

Northern Winter Magic: Russian and European tourists are flooding into Hunchun and Harbin, drawn by world-class ice-and-snow festivals.

Cultural Folk Customs: Cities like Fuzhou (home to the “Parade of the Gods”) and Huangshan (famous for lantern festivals) have seen search interest surge by over 253%.

The “Family Reunion” Vibe: Interestingly, many international guests are opting for extended stays in boutique hotels in Chengdu or Xi’an, specifically to experience a “traditional” New Year dinner with local families.

A Seamless Digital Welcome

China has also addressed the “digital friction” that once hindered foreign visitors. 11 government departments recently launched a package of incentives, including multilingual digital maps and enhanced mobile payment pilots. Whether it’s a temple fair in Beijing or a street-food stall in Guangzhou, international visitors can now “click-to-pay” just like a local.

The Human Impact: Connecting Cultures

Beyond the billions of yuan in revenue and the millions of flights, the 2026 Spring Festival is a win for “soft power.” As international tourists carry fish-shaped lanterns in Zhejiang or learn to paint scrolls in Anhui, the narrative of China is being reshaped by personal experience rather than headlines.

“Celebrating the Spring Festival in China has become a global fashion,” notes a tourism industry analyst. It is a season of shared joy, where the “Year of the Horse” represents not just speed and progress, but a bridge between China and the world.