Transport
China reported record domestic travel during the 2026 Spring Festival holiday.
Officials said the nine-day holiday set new records for trips and tourism spending, which matters for crowding and transport demand planning.
China Travel Policy & Service Updates
What this page is
- A chronological feed of travel-relevant policy and operational service changes.
- Focused on entry, payment, internet, and transport changes that affect foreign visitors.
- Linked back to the most relevant guide so the impact is clear.
Last 30 Days
No major travel updates were added in the last 30 days. Check the archive below for older entries.
Archive
Visa
China said 2025 inbound visits topped 150 million, with spending above USD 130 billion.
Inbound travel continued to accelerate, reinforcing the importance of visa-free and traveler-convenience policies for 2026 planning.
Visa
Visa-free entries rose 49.5% in 2025, according to official statistics.
The State Council reported 30.08 million inbound visits under visa-free arrangements in 2025, showing how central these policies have become for foreign travel to China.
Transport
Civil aviation handled 22.05 million passenger trips during the 2026 Spring Festival holiday.
Official air traffic data suggests stronger holiday demand and possible pressure on airport transfers, domestic flights, and peak-period fares.
Visa
Canada and the United Kingdom were added to China's unilateral visa-free program.
The foreign ministry said ordinary passport holders from both countries could enter visa-free for up to 30 days starting February 17, 2026.
Payment
Authorities issued new guidance to improve digital services and payment access for overseas visitors.
The policy package called for better foreign-language digital services, stronger payment support, and more convenient tourism-facing online tools.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How often is the updates feed refreshed?▾
The feed is manually curated whenever visa rules, traveler-facing payment guidance, internet access guidance, or transport conditions materially change. It is meant to surface practical changes, not every news headline.
Are these updates official announcements?▾
Where possible, entries link to official Chinese government, ministry, or agency sources. Some archive items may summarize official statistics or government-backed reporting that affects travel planning.
Why do some update entries link to guides on this site?▾
The archive is meant to help you act on a change quickly. Each entry points you to the most relevant guide so you can see the practical impact without searching the site manually.