Record numbers of foreign travelers are pouring into China this summer, drawn by cool climate escapes, film-inspired cultural experiences, and irresistible shopping sprees.
In the first half of the year, inbound arrivals from overseas reached 22.91 million, a 20.4 percent year-on-year increase, according to the National Immigration Administration. Among them, 17.82 million entered visa-free, up 30.6 percent. The cross-border travel surge is emerging as a fresh engine for economic growth.
As a blistering heatwave sweeps Europe, Chinese air conditioners have flown off shelves for export. Large numbers of European travelers are also heading to China, where air conditioning is widely available indoors and naturally cool destinations await across the country.
This summer, European countries made up 30 percent of China's top 20 inbound source markets, with bookings jumping 275 percent from a year earlier, according to data from third-party travel platforms.
The southern tech hub of Shenzhen has seen a steady rise in overseas arrivals. Some travelers said that while temperatures outside can be high, the near-ubiquitous indoor air conditioning keeps things comfortably cool.
"We are thinking about doing some indoor skiing, some jet skiing, maybe. Snow is cold and water is cold, so it will cool me down," said Robin Owen, who traveled from Britain with his partner.
Meanwhile, China's varied terrain offers plenty of refreshing options.
In the northeast, the vast forested expanse of Changbai Mountain serves as a colossal natural canopy. Coastal cities like Dalian also provide breezy seaside retreats.
Central China's Tianmen Mountain, a landmark in the tourist city of Zhangjiajie, has drawn an increasing flow of overseas travelers seeking natural cooling. At an elevation of over 1,500 meters, the peak maintains a refreshing average temperature of 22 to 26 degrees Celsius during the hottest months.
"It was great actually for walks and everything, and I do think it could be a summer resort. I think it would be great. The temperatures are well regulated and the views are out of this world," said Dutch visitor Aida Sivic.
Box office hits are also fueling travel. The acclaimed Chaoshan-dialect film "Dear You", which follows Chinese immigrants in Thailand and explores themes of nostalgia and homecoming, has struck a deep chord across Southeast Asian countries with large Chinese communities. The film's success has since drawn waves of international tourists to its filming locations in the southern Chinese cities of Chaozhou, Shantou, Jiangmen and Jieyang.
"We flew all the way to Shantou specifically to see this movie. I truly enjoyed it. It reminded me so much of my father while I was watching," said a Singaporean viewer.
Beyond sightseeing, shopping has become a powerful lure. In Shenzhen's Huaqiangbei electronics district, best known as a wholesale hub for components and electronic products, foreign visitors flock to buy the latest gadgets.
French tourist Jocelyne, who had done her research before arriving, headed straight to Huaqiangbei after she touched down, where she picked up a spray fan, one of the season's hottest sellers.
"The mall is really good because air conditioning is everywhere. Here in the same place with so many choices," she said.
Since the start of summer, many overseas travelers have made special trips to hunt for bargains, and merchants have tailored their offerings to international tastes, rolling out misting fans and cooling towels for customers from different countries. Along Huaqiangbei's pedestrian street, foreign tourists are now a common sight, sipping cold drinks and wielding handheld fans as they browse.
With easier payment procedures and upgraded departure tax refund policies now in place, the shopping experience has become smoother than ever. Tourists' purchase lists have expanded far beyond traditional souvenirs to include drones, VR glasses, cultural creative goods and trendy toys, all of which are increasingly seen abroad as quintessential Chinese finds.
In 2025, inbound arrivals to China surpassed 150 million, up more than 17 percent year on year, with spending exceeding 130 billion U.S dollars, a nearly 40 percent increase, signaling that the country's appeal is resonating far beyond its borders.
Inbound tourism to China soars this summer as overseas visitors seek cool escapes
