Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, January 6 (Xinhua) — China's inbound tourism market got off to a stellar start to 2026 during the past three-day New Year holiday, thanks to the continued release of dividends from the visa-free policy and the growth of international routes, according to a report posted on Monday on the China Media Group news app.
According to data from the National Immigration Administration of China, the number of foreigners who used the visa-free regime to enter the country during the 2026 New Year holidays reached 292,000 people, which is 35.8 percent more than during the same period last year.
According to data from one online travel platform, 97 Chinese cities welcomed foreign tourists during the three-day New Year's holiday. Among the most popular destinations are not only Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Chengdu, but also the resort island province of Hainan in southern China, where the cultural tourism market is expected to experience an even stronger recovery following the launch of independent customs operations across the entire province in December 2025.
In Hainan, foreign tourists have discovered a new travel model: "duty-free shopping plus a beach holiday."
Haikou Customs reported on Sunday that duty-free sales in the resort province saw a sharp increase during the holiday period: from January 1 to 3, 2026, sales at offshore duty-free shops reached 712 million yuan (about 101.3 million US dollars), up 128.9 percent compared to the same period in 2025.
"The people here are very kind and hospitable. I plan to come here for the holidays in December 2026 with my friends and children. This time, I also bought many different types of tea, each of which is excellent," said the Russian tourist.
"We've found a lot of new brands here that are very interesting, and we all have Alipay, which makes payment seamless," said a tourist from Belarus.
Some tourists are also attracted by the tropical climate of Hainan Island. "We really like it here. It's too cold in our hometown right now. Compared to that, the weather here is very pleasant," said a tourist from Kazakhstan.
Dadonghai Bay in the seaside resort of Sanya, Hainan Province, also hosts a culinary carnival, allowing foreign tourists to immerse themselves in the island's unique charm at night through local delicacies, New Year's lion dances, and other events.
As a reminder, in December 2025, China launched an independent customs operation regime throughout the Hainan Free Trade Port (HFTP), which provides freer import of foreign goods, expanded coverage of zero tariffs, and a more favorable business environment.
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