ChinaInNumbers | China gains favor with foreign visitors as visa-free arrivals rise
China continued to attract more foreign visitors in the third quarter of 2026, with visa-free entries rising 24.1 percent year on year to nearly 9 million.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of National Defense
National Development and Reform Commission
Ministry of Education
Ministry of Science and Technology
Ministry of Industry and Information Technology
National Ethnic Affairs Commission
Ministry of Public Security
Ministry of Civil Affairs
Ministry of Justice
Ministry of Finance
Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security
Ministry of Natural Resources
Ministry of Ecology and Environment
Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development
Ministry of Transport
Ministry of Water Resources
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Ministry of Commerce
Ministry of Culture and Tourism
National Health Commission
Ministry of Veterans Affairs
Ministry of Emergency Management
The People’s Bank of China
National Audit Office
State Language Commission
China National Space Administration
China Atomic Energy Authority
State Oceanic Administration
National Nuclear Safety Administration
The National Rural Revitalization Administration
State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council
General Administration of Customs
State Taxation Administration
State Administration for Market Regulation
China Securities Regulatory Commission
National Radio and Television Administration
General Administration of Sport
National Public Complaints and Proposals Administration
National Bureau of Statistics
National Intellectual Property Administration
China International Development Cooperation Agency
National Healthcare Security Administration
Counsellor’s Office of the State Council
National Government Offices Administration
Certification and Accreditation Administration
Standardization Administration
National Copyright Administration
National Religious Affairs Administration
The State Council Research Office
Overseas Chinese Affairs Office
Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council
Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council
Cyberspace Administration of China
The State Council Information Office
Xinhua News Agency
Chinese Academy of Sciences
Chinese Academy of Social Science
Chinese Academy of Engineering
Development Research Center of the State Council
China Meteorological Administration
National Academy of Governance
National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration
National Energy Administration
State Administration of Science,Technology and Industry for National Defence
National Immigration Administration
National Forestry and Grassland Administration
National Railway Administration
Civil Aviation Administration
National Cutural Heritage Administration
National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine
National Coal Mine Safety Administration
National Fire and Rescue Administration
State Administration of Foreign Exchange
National Medical Products Administration
10 Comments
Reader notes and reactions to this story.
Maya Chen 2 hours ago
This story captures something I noticed in Shanghai too: young people treat the city almost like a shared living room.
Leo Park 3 hours ago
The point about low-cost identity is sharp. It explains why small habits can feel bigger than entertainment.
Anika Rao 5 hours ago
I would love a follow-up about second-tier cities. Chengdu and Hangzhou probably have different versions of this.
Jonas Miller 6 hours ago
The examples feel familiar even outside China. Urban life is becoming more improvised everywhere.
Yuki Tanaka 8 hours ago
Museum visits, cycling routes, pop-up stores - that mix says a lot about how cities are changing.
Clara Wu 9 hours ago
The article makes the trend feel human instead of just lifestyle branding. Nice angle.
Samir Patel 11 hours ago
I like that the piece does not frame this as Westernization. It feels more locally invented.
Nina Roberts Yesterday
The writing around public streets becoming social spaces is especially strong.
Eric Zhou Yesterday
This reminds me of weekend markets near university areas. Very accurate.
Helen Garcia 2 days ago
Would be great to see photos from the routes mentioned in the article.