China is seeing a significant surge in visitors from New Zealand, driven by a 30-day visa-free policy, expanded air routes, and simplified digital payment options.
According to Statistics New Zealand, the number of trips made by New Zealanders to China as their primary destination stood at 167,000 in 2025, while figures for the first seven months of this year alone have already exceeded 128,000.
The sharp rise highlights how the 30-day visa-free policy is reshaping outbound travel patterns, encouraging both first-time visits and frequent returns.
"Since the visa-free policy was introduced, we can feel that demand for travel to China has been steadily rising, with particularly significant growth this year," said Li Ruiqin, managing director of China Travel Service in New Zealand.
Air travel capacity between China and New Zealand has continued to expand this year, with airlines including Hainan Airlines, China Eastern Airlines and Air China announcing to increase the number of flights between the two countries.
With more flight routes added and travel options expanded for New Zealanders, China's improved support for tourism services, including easier payments, language assistance and more convenient transportation, has become an important factor shaping the overall tourist experience.
"We've all got translator on our phones, but most of all, the way you pay for services, the way you pay for your breakfast, your dinner, if you've got WeChat or you've got Alipay, it is just so simple," said David Cunningham Carter, former Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives.
China sees sharp rise in New Zealand tourists amid visa-free policy, expanded flight routes
Scenic spots across China have seen a surge in tourist visits since the week-long National Day holiday began on Thursday.
The Huangguoshu Waterfall scenic area in Anshun City, southwest China's Guizhou Province, recorded nearly 48,000 tourist visits on Friday, marking a peak in arrivals.
On the viewing platform, many visitors held up their phones to capture the spectacular sight of the cascading waterfall.
The scenic area is expected to handle 230,000 to 250,000 tourist visits during the holiday. On the first day of the holiday, a traditional dragon boat event was held in Jiujiang Town, Foshan City, south China's Guangdong Province, drawing tens of thousands of people to the riverbanks to watch the fierce competition.
"Taking the National Day holiday as an opportunity, I've brought my family to Jiujiang to experience the intangible cultural heritage of the Lingnan region. The dragon boat spirit of pulling together in the same boat really lets us feel the charm of pulling together," said Guo Yunxian, a tourist from Guangzhou, the provincial capital city of Guangdong.
During the holiday, a desert tourism scenic area in Makit County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, has also seen flocks of visitors.
From thrilling sand dune off-roading to sand sliding and camel rides, the scenic area offers a range of activities for different age groups. It now receives about 6,000 tourist visits a day on average.
"My child has never been here before. I want him to see what the desert in the picture books actually looks like, and to experience what it feels like to ride a camel," said Qi Shuo, a tourist from east China's Shandong Province.
The ancient city of Datong in north China's Shanxi Province is staging light shows during the holiday.
The shows incorporate local historical and cultural elements, including images of ancient architecture such as the Hanging Temple and Huayan Temple, as well as the flying apsaras of the well-known Yungang Grottoes.
Scenic spots across China see tourist surge during National Day holiday
