China's National Day border crossings hit 15.46 million; visa-free foreign arrivals up 9%

Border crossings into and out of China during the National Day holiday (Oct. 1–7) totaled 15.462 million, according to figures released by the National Immigration Administration on Oct. 8. The daily average was up 6.7% from last year. About three in four foreign arrivals entered without a visa, showing how visa-free policies are underpinning short-term travel to China.

By FOCUS BUSINESS editorial staff

Border inspection authorities nationwide handled an average of 2.209 million crossings a day by Chinese and foreign travelers during the holiday, the administration said. The busiest day was Oct. 4, with 2.397 million crossings. The totals count every crossing, so one person traveling several times is counted several times.

Mainland residents traveling abroad up 9%

Outbound trips by mainland residents reached 4.444 million, up 9.3%. Inspections of aircraft, ships, trains and vehicles totaled 732,000, up 14.7%.

Last year the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day fell together, creating an eight-day break; this year the Mid-Autumn holiday (Sept. 25–27) and National Day were separate. Because the holidays differ in length, daily averages are a better basis for comparison than totals.

682,000 foreign arrivals, 74% visa-free

Foreign arrivals totaled 682,000, up 5.4%. Of these, 505,000 entered under visa-free policies, up 9.2%. With visa-free entries growing faster than foreign arrivals overall, their share reached 74%.

China allows ordinary passport holders from a number of countries, including South Korea, to enter without a visa for stays of up to 30 days. China's foreign ministry extended the policy last November through Dec. 31, 2026. The release does not break down arrivals by nationality, so the number of Korean visitors is not known.

Business Checkpoints

Business travel to China has become easier. Koreans can stay up to 30 days without a visa until the end of this year, so short trips for meetings, trade fairs or factory checks need no visa paperwork. The waiver covers business, tourism, family visits, exchanges and transit only; working locally or staying longer still requires a visa.

No decision has been announced on extending the waiver beyond 2026. Companies planning trips or buyer visits early next year should recheck notices from the Korean Embassy in China and Chinese authorities in December. At peak times such as right after a holiday, airport processing and customs clearance for samples can take longer, so build some slack into schedules.

※ This article is based on figures released by the National Immigration Administration of China and Korean and international media reports.