Foreign tourists fill out their arrival cards online at Arrival Card Online Filling Area /HANDOUT

China’s expanding visa-free policies and improved international air connectivity are driving a surge in foreign visitors to its cities.

Xiamen, which is one of the coastal cities, recorded nearly 900,000 foreign passenger trips since the beginning of 2026 as a result of the policy.

The figure represents a nearly 15 per cent increase year-on-year, setting a record for the same period in previous years.

This is as more international travellers take advantage of simplified entry procedures and growing opportunities to explore China.

Visa-free and transit visa-free travellers accounted for 60 per cent of all foreign arrivals, pointing to the growing influence of relaxed entry requirements in attracting visitors.

The trend is also reflected in longer stays, with international tourists increasingly moving beyond brief stopovers to explore multiple destinations and experience local culture.

Xiamen, in Fujian Province in southeastern China, is positioning itself as a destination where visitors can combine cultural tourism, historical attractions and modern urban experiences.

During China’s National Day holiday, which ran from October 1 to 7, 15 major tourist attractions in the city recorded a combined 7.42 million visits by residents and tourists.

The attractions included Gulangyu Island, the Botanical Garden, Zhongshan Road and Jimei School Village.

The city also organised more than 800 cultural and tourism activities during the holiday, ranging from music and art performances to folk traditions, museum exhibitions and immersive garden experiences.

The activities are part of efforts to transform tourism into an experience that allows visitors to engage with local traditions rather than simply visit landmarks.

Gulangyu Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offers visitors a glimpse of Xiamen’s history through its century-old architecture, which reflects Chinese and Western influences.

Elsewhere, tourists can explore historic streets lined with traditional arcades and sample Minnan cuisine, a regional culinary tradition associated with southern Fujian.

Visitors can also experience everyday local life through traditional tea gatherings, where residents meet around low tables to enjoy gongfu tea and conversation.

Beyond the attractions, authorities are working to make entry into the country easier for international travellers.

Xiamen has introduced a one-stop application service for the 240-hour temporary entry permit, combining advance online applications submitted through airlines with processing on arrival.

The city has also expanded digital arrival-card services, with 99 per cent of travellers at its ports completing the forms online.

Passengers arriving from 18 domestic destinations can also transfer to international flights on a single ticket, improving connections for travellers moving through the city.

The changes are intended to reduce administrative hurdles and make international journeys through Xiamen more convenient.

Data from Xiamen Gaoqi Border Inspection Station indicate that the city is attracting visitors who stay longer in China.

Since the beginning of 2026, about 18,000 foreign travellers who entered China visa-free through Xiamen and stayed in Fujian Province for more than 15 days have been recorded.

This represents an increase of more than 70 per cent compared with the same period last year.

Under the 240-hour visa-free transit policy, more than 60 per cent of foreign travellers entering through Xiamen have stayed for over five days.

The shift towards longer visits creates opportunities for tourism businesses and other sectors benefiting from international consumption.

Xiamen is also upgrading services to make shopping and payments easier for foreign visitors.

Cross-border mobile payment services are being improved, while the departure tax refund process has been simplified through an instant refund upon purchase service.

The measures are part of the city’s wider efforts to improve its international consumption environment and attract more overseas spending.

There are streamlined entry procedures, improved flight connections and varied cultural attractions offers which can come handy for international visitors.