China's digital economy continued its robust expansion in 2025, with the added value of the core industries accounting for over 10.5 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP), according to a report released Friday by the Cyberspace Administration of China.
The National Informatization Development Report (2025) showed the country's digital industry revenue reached 39.6 trillion yuan (approximately 5.8 trillion U.S. dollars) in 2025, marking an 8.8-percent growth year over year. Digital consumption by Chinese residents also surged, hitting 25.3 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 8.7 percent.
The growth spurt came as China accelerated its transition toward a digitized economic model, partly driven by massive investments in foundational network infrastructure like 5G and Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6), the newest version of the Internet Protocol.
By the end of 2025, the total number of 5G base stations in the country surpassed 4.83 million, according to the report. Two-thirds of prefecture-level Chinese cities had met the standards for "gigabit cities," driven by widespread dual-gigabit network deployment and 5G infrastructure expansion.
The number of active users of IPv6 reached 869 million in the year, accounting for over 77 percent of China's total internet user base, the report said.
Data from the National Data Administration (NDA) showed that the added value of China's digital economy as a whole reached 49 trillion yuan in 2025, accounting for about 35 percent of the GDP.
According to classifications by the National Bureau of Statistics, China's digital economy covers five broad categories: digital product manufacturing, digital product services, digital technology applications, data factor-driven industries, and industries supported by digital efficiency improvements.
China has also signaled strong intentions to continue the sector's high-quality development in the coming years. The 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) prioritizes efforts to advance Digital China development, as well as drive digital and intelligent transformation across all economic and social sectors.
Core industries in China's digital economy hit 10.5 pct of GDP in 2025: report
As temperatures soar across the Northern Hemisphere, a growing number of global travelers are heading to China in search of cooler destinations, turning summer tourism into a new driver of the country's inbound travel and consumption.
Data released by the Ministry of Public Security on Friday showed that China recorded 22.91 million inbound trips by foreign nationals in the first half of the year, up 20.4 percent year on year. Among them, 17.82 million trips were made by travelers entering under visa-free policies, a 30.6 percent increase from a year earlier.
According to data from third-party travel platforms, European countries accounted for 30 percent of the top 20 source markets for inbound tourism during this year's summer holiday season. Bookings from European travelers surged 275 percent year on year, while ticket reservations for attractions increased more than 20 folds.
China's scenic destinations with mild climates have become popular choices for overseas tourists seeking relief from the summer heat.
Located in central China's Hunan Province, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is famous for its stunning sandstone mountains, dense forests and pleasant summer temperature, attracting visitors from Europe, Southeast Asia and other regions who come to enjoy its cool mountain air and stunning natural beauty.
The city of Zhangjiajie now operates 13 passenger air routes connecting eight countries and regions, while streamlined entry procedures allow visitors to clear customs within about 30 minutes and head directly to tourist attractions.
Changbai Mountain in northeast China's Jilin Province has also emerged as a summer favorite. With average temperatures below 22 degrees Celsius from June to August, the destination offers visitors a cool escape surrounded by forests and mountains.
Amid the boom in inbound tourism, international visitors are impressed not only by the scenic destinations, but also by the convenience and quality of transport services.
A high-speed rail connection between Changbai Mountain and Beijing allows visitors from the country's capital to reach the destination in just over four hours, making the getaways even more convenient.
The city of Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, has seen a surge in inbound tourism so far this summer, as its pleasantly cool climate, expanded visa facilitation policies and diverse travel experiences attract more and more overseas visitors, particularly from South and Southeast Asia.
"Singaporean visitors mainly come for the pleasant weather, distinctive ancient towns and authentic local specialty food," said a Singaporean tour guide.
Beyond scenery, China's consumer products are also becoming part of the summer travel experience for foreign visitors.
Salah from India made Shenzhen's Huaqiangbei electronics market his important stop in China, where he bought lots of gadgets including a portable fan.
"I've already accumulated a lot of products, maybe four to five, like electronic cooling fan. I never saw this kind of electronic shopping center anywhere in the world, so amazing, amazing," said Salah.
Huaqiangbei has become a popular destination among foreign visitors and a trending location on overseas social media platforms. Local merchants have introduced cooling products such as mist fans and cooling towels tailored to different markets.
Whereas in Shanghai, foreign shoppers are lining up outside stores for popular Chinese brands. Some visitors arrive with pictures saved from social media, hoping to find products they have seen online.
"A lot of people are buying this brand. It's pretty famous over in North America. A lot of people know about it," said a customer from Canada.
"In Thailand, it's very popular," said a Thai customer.
With more convenient payment services and expanded departure tax refund policies, China travel is gaining popularity among overseas visitors, boosting hotels, restaurants and retail businesses.
Foreign tourists flock to China for cool summer escapes
