China sees surging inbound tourism, shopping boom

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠An increasing number of overseas visitors are enjoying the diverse cultures and high-quality products as China continues to expand its visa-free policy, simplify the entry procedures and facilitate payment processes.

The Student and Youth Travel Association (SYTA) from the United States brought its 16 educational travel agencies to China during the 2025 Xianghu Dialogue of the World Tourism Alliance (WTA), held from Tuesday to Friday in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province. Together they scouted multiple popular cities to craft customized student itineraries.

During their 10-day China tour, these international travel agents learned Tai Chi at Beijing's Temple of Heaven and experienced Peking Opera culture; visited the Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum and tried pottery making in Xi'an City, northwest China's Shaanxi Province; they also studied traditional tea art and toured West Lake in Hangzhou, immersing themselves deeply in historical and cultural resources of different cities.

"There has been a real movement on social media, on TV entertainment, to build China as a destination for more student groups," said Carylann Assante, CEO of the SYTA.

Data shows that China's inbound tourist numbers have surged over 100 percent year on year in 2025, with spending levels rising correspondingly. European and American tourists account for significantly larger shares, with U.S. visitor spending up 50 percent and French tourist spending growing 160 percent.

The inbound tourism spending growth is a result of a series of payment facilitation policies. 

Hangzhou pioneered China's first "tap to tax refund" service for departures in August, just a tap by using near-field communication (NFC) on phone can process refunds within two minutes.

"Hangzhou now has 277 tax refund stores for overseas tourists this year. Currently, we're prioritizing the 'tap to tax refund' service in about 20 leading stores. Last year's tax refund sales in Hangzhou totaled 110 million yuan (about 15.5 million U.S. dollars), and this year's refund sales are projected to reach 250 million yuan (about 35.1 U.S. dollars)," said Chen Bin, director of the international exchange and promotion department of Hangzhou Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, TV and Tourism.

The "tap to tax refund" pilot will subsequently expand nationwide.

China sees surging inbound tourism, shopping boom

China attaches great importance to the development of China-Singapore relations, and is willing to maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges, promote practical cooperation in various fields, and enhance people-to-people exchanges with Singapore, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when holding talks with Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan in Beijing.

Noting that over the past year, under the strategic guidance of leaders of the two countries and joint efforts of both sides, the all-round high-quality and future-oriented partnership between China and Singapore has maintained a good momentum, Wang urged the two countries to continue to enhance strategic communication, increase mutual trust, jointly address the ever-emerging global challenges at present, and safeguard the overall situation of regional peace and stability.

Wang said that maintaining the security of global industrial and supply chains and the smooth flow of maritime navigation is in the common interests of the international community, and China is willing to continue to make efforts to this end.

Noting that Singapore is an important ASEAN member and will assume ASEAN's rotating presidency next year, Wang said China expects the Singaporean side to continue playing an active role in promoting China-ASEAN cooperation.

Balakrishnan said Singapore highly values its relations with China, adheres to the one-China policy, and firmly opposes "Taiwan independence."

Singapore is willing to maintain close high-level exchanges with China, promote practical cooperation in various fields, carry out key cooperation projects of both sides, and promote regional connectivity, he said.

Singapore is ready to promote greater progress in ASEAN-China comprehensive strategic partnership, support the Global Development Initiative, and uphold multilateralism and free trade, and is willing to work with China to make joint efforts in promoting world peace, development and prosperity, he added.

China ready to promote practical cooperation with Singapore: Chinese FM