Inbound tourism boom: China sees record foreign arrivals as visa-free policy takes hold

Chinese state media report a sharp rise in foreign visitors this summer, driven by expanded visa waivers and immersive cultural experiences. At Beijing ports alone, foreign entries surpassed 4.6 million through early August, up 30 percent year on year, while a single-day record of 80,000 was set on August 2. In Zhengzhou, over 78 percent of a weekly 20,000 arrivals used visa-free access. The piece highlights cycling tours along Beijing's Central Axis and craft-beer-tasting in repurposed factory districts as new draws.