China’s inbound tourism is experiencing strong growth as expanded visa-free policies, improved travel services, and immersive cultural experiences attract more international visitors.

At a tourism promotion event in Guilin, nearly 2,000 global travel professionals explored China’s cultural heritage, while destinations such as Zhangjiajie, Chongqing, Huangshan, and Sichuan showcased authentic local experiences that are reshaping inbound travel.

Official data showed China’s travel services exports reached 147.15 billion yuan ($21.74 billion) in the first four months of the year, up 30.4 percent year on year. More than 8.31 million foreign visitors entered China visa-free in the first quarter, a 29.3 percent increase.

China continues to enhance visitor convenience through expanded visa-free access, multilingual services, AI-powered tourism, digital payment systems, and improved transport infrastructure. Officials say the country’s growing openness, richer cultural offerings, and stronger international connectivity are driving inbound tourism while promoting cultural exchange and global cooperation.

Source: People’s Daily