Visa-free transit boosts China's inbound tourism during May Day holiday

China

Visa-free transit boosts China's inbound tourism during May Day holiday

2026-05-04 14:28 Last Updated At：19:57

China's visa-free transit policy continued to boost inbound tourism during the May Day holiday, with multiple regions seeing growing numbers of foreign visitors.

With last year's implementation of the mutual visa-free policy between China and Russia, Hunchun Highway Port - Jilin Province's only land port open to Russia - saw a continuous rise in inbound and outbound passenger traffic during this holiday.

"I'm very happy to be able to enter visa-free. Now with the visa-free policy, it's very convenient, there's no need to apply for a visa in advance. Everything here is great, the food is delicious, and the people here are very hospitable," said Larisa, a Russian tourist.

Xi'an, a popular destination for international travelers, saw a noticeable increase in inbound tourist traffic at its major landmarks.

At the Xi'an City Wall scenic area, large numbers of foreign tourists are climbing the historical wall to experience the charm of the millennium-old ancient capital.

"I'm interested in Chinese culture, and to learn about the history of the country and the city," said Eamon, an Australian traveler.

Foreign tourists also showed great enthusiasm in the rich immersive cultural experiences the city offers.

"We watched a lot of videos on TikTok, very interesting videos about China. We like everything very much," said Maria, a Swiss tourist, after dining in a cultural entertainment theater restaurant.

In Yunnan, Hekou Port, the largest land port connecting Vietnam in the province, is expected to see over 100,000 trips between April 30 and May 5.

"We came to visit Kunming and Dali. Recently, the flowers are blooming beautifully in these places, so we wanted to come here to see the scenery and take photos," said Nhung, a Vietnamese traveler.

Cities across China adorned for National Day celebrations

Cities across China are decorating landmark sites with national flags and floral displays as National Day is around the corner.

Yuzhong District of southwest China's Chongqing City is displaying over 2,000 flags alongside carefully arranged floral landscapes covering main roads, commercial hubs, and bridges. In Shexian County of east China's Anhui Province, red flags are fluttering amid the Huizhou Ancient City's floral greenery.

At the Wenshan Dongshan Park in southwest China's Yunnan Province, citizens unfurled a giant 24-by-16 meter national flag, singing vibrant songs to express their heartfelt wishes. Cities such as Chengdu in southwest China, Taiyuan in north China, and Yichang in central China are also showcasing the five-star flag to usher in the holiday.

Flower displays bloom throughout streets and parks, with cities of Fuzhou in the east and Daqing in the northeast hosting themed floral exhibitions that brighten public spaces. Markets bustle with activity as fresh produce flows steadily. In Zhongmu, Henan Province in central China, trucks loaded with pomegranate, honey tangerines and kiwi line up early to meet demand. In Urumqi City of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, flower markets bloom with over a thousand varieties meeting diverse consumer preferences.

Ahead of the holiday, Hong Kong's streets have been adorned with bright national and special administrative region (SAR)'s flags alongside large National Day posters. Community groups are holding cultural activities featuring traditional crafts to celebrate the 77th founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China.

In Macao, national flags wave at border checkpoints, streets, parks and squares, paired with celebratory banners creating a lively National Day atmosphere.