Ports across China have seen strong momentum in both passenger and cargo cross-border traffic this year, thanks to the ongoing rollout of facilitation measures in immigration management and a steady warming of trade ties.
Beijing had recorded more than 8 million border crossings as of 11:30 Tuesday, a year-on-year increase of 12 percent and reaching the mark in record time, half a month earlier than in 2025.
As cross-border travel and trade between China and Kazakhstan continue to grow, the Horgos highway port in northwest China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region has entered a peak period of cross-border traffic. According to data from the Horgos Immigration Inspection Station, during the first four months of this year, the port processed a total of 500,200 passenger cross-border entries and exits, up 23.27 percent year on year and reaching a record high.
"Among the travelers are both domestic tourists heading to countries in Central Asia for sightseeing and visits, and traders and professionals engaged in cross-border business between China and Kazakhstan. The types of passenger traffic have become increasingly diverse," said Zhu Chunru, head of the seventh duty team of the Horgos Immigration Inspection Station.
The Karasu Port -- the sole land port between China and neighboring Tajikistan -- has seen double-digit growth in both cross-border personnel flows and vehicle transportation so far in 2026.
The port, located in Kashgar, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, recorded over 11,000 inbound and outbound passenger trips as of Monday, up 17 percent year on year. Outbound and inbound vehicles have exceeded 10,000, making up a 15 percent increase.
"A clear trend of large-scale import and export of cross-border goods is evident, with port clearance throughput continuing to rise," said Liu Mingqiu, deputy director of the Border Inspection Department of Karasu Immigration Inspection Station.
Wanding port in Ruili City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, has also seen relatively rapid growth in both passenger and cargo volumes, with large shipments of mangoes from Myanmar entering China through the port recently.
So far this year, the port has processed a total of 281,400 passengers entering and leaving, and handled 700,200 tonnes of imported and exported goods.
China's ports see rising traffic of both passenger and cargo
With enhanced tax refund services and cultural attractions drawing huge crowds, the eastern coastal city of Xiamen is transforming how overseas visitors experience and spend in China.
The May Day holiday peak has passed, but the city's iconic Gulangyu Island is still buzzing with tourists. This UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site unveiled two new cultural landmarks this month: the China Film Music Exhibition Hall, the country's first museum dedicated to Chinese movie music, and the National Art Museum of China's Gulangyu Art Space. Both have quickly gained popularity among international travelers.
"It's my first time coming here, so I love it here. And the atmosphere is good. The art you showed is also perfect," said Rudolph Asase Mensah, a visitor from Ghana.
According to local statistics, Gulangyu has attracted more than 150,000 overseas tourists so far this year, marking an annual growth of over 49 percent. Beyond the exhibitions, the cultural and creative products on display have also drawn keen interest. Decorative fridge magnets featuring the island's historic architecture have become popular souvenirs.
"No one does creative and cultural products in museums as well as China does. And there's a kind of culture of doing that here in China. And I think this is as good as any other place that I've been [to]. It's great to be able to see some memorable items that people can take home from their visits so that they remember [them] into the future," said Rodney Harrison, a British tourist.
To further improve the shopping experience, Xiamen has been upgrading its departure tax refund service for overseas tourists since the start of the year. To date, the city has certified 151 tax refund stores, 71 of which offer the "refund upon purchase" service. These stores are located across major commercial districts and popular tourist neighborhoods, allowing overseas visitors to process tax refunds easily.
In the first four months of this year, the number of international tourists making purchases at Xiamen's departure tax refund stores surged over 560 percent year on year. Total sales grew by 66.8 percent, while the amount of tax refunds increased by nearly 100 percent.
"It's a good policy that brings convenience to tourists," said Bekdurdy, a traveler from Turkmenistan.
"Probably I will visit those shops and buy some gifts for my home country, also for my family and my friends," said Hassan Nawa from Pakistan.
Int'l tourists flock to Xiamen as shopping experience improves
