Int'l tourists surge as China expands visa-free policies

China's expansion of visa-free entry policies has led to continuous increases in international tourist arrivals this summer, with Shenzhen, a south China city neighboring Hong Kong, becoming one of the most sought-after destinations.

China has introduced unilateral visa-free entry and mutual visa exemption agreements with 75 countries as part of its efforts to streamline visa rules and promote international exchange, Wang Zhizhong, vice minister of public security and head of the National Immigration Administration (NIA), said on July 30.

During the summer, Emirates Airlines opened a new route from Dubai to Shenzhen, with tourists from across the world making up the majority of passengers on each flight.

"It's my first visit to China. I'm planning to go to many cities in China, like Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and many cities also, by ferry and fast train,” said a Saudi tourist.

Since the route opened a month ago, it has not only boosted the number of Middle Eastern travelers to China, but also attracted a significant number of European and American tourists to China via Dubai.

According to the Shenzhen Border Inspection Station, the number of passengers traveling to and from the UAE through Shenzhen Airport increased by over 155.1 percent year on year during the summer travel season.

Shenzhen Airport currently runs international passenger routes serving 33 countries and 47 cities. Driven by the visa-free policy, the inbound passenger flow has become more diverse this summer. In addition to traditional markets like South Korea, Malaysia, Japan, Singapore, and Thailand, the numbers of passengers from the United States, Russia, and Spain have seen a particularly significant increase.

"As of August 7, we have checked and handled over 127,000 foreign passenger trips since the start of the summer travel rush, a year-on-year increase of over 32.3 percent. Of these, visa-free entry accounted for nearly 60 percent, a year-on-year increase of over 145.3 percent. In terms of traveler types, family travel holds a big account. In particular, the number of children under 14 and those over 65 increased by over 46.4 percent year on year," said Mai Xiaoyu, a staff member of Shenzhen Airport border inspection station.

In addition to the airport, passenger traffic at Shenzhen's land ports has also remained high. Since the start of summer vacation, the Luohu Border Inspection Station has cleared over 104,000 foreign travelers, a year-on-year increase of approximately 41 percent.

"This is my third time (in China). I've been to China in Zhongshan and Shenzhen. We want to try more food and see more places, take more pictures," said a tourist from Indonesia.

Int'l tourists surge as China expands visa-free policies

A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.

Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.

In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.

"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.

Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.

In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.

"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.

By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.

After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.

"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.

Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.

As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.

Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media