China's expanding visa-free travel has ignited a surge of international arrivals, with overseas visitors flocking to its diverse destinations for richer, more immersive holiday experiences.

As the world welcomed 2026, more international travelers in China explored a wider variety of places and embraced deeper cultural encounters during the New Year holiday.

From Jan. 1 to Jan. 7, Sanya City and Haikou City in south China's Hainan Province saw a 28 percent and 15 percent increase in inbound tourists, respectively, attracting a significant number of visitors from countries such as South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Australia.

Hainan's offshore duty-free shopping amounted to 1.21 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 88 percent, with nearly 150,000 shoppers, which represents a year-on-year growth of 38.3 percnent.

Influenced by factors such as the 2026 New Year holiday and the 42nd Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival, the number of inbound tourists during the first week of the new year saw an increase of over 70 percent compared to the previous year in Harbin City of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. Foreign travelers can be seen at various attractions throughout the city.

"Our country does not have such scenery. Very surprising," said a tourist from Indonesia.

The growing diversity of both destinations and sources of foreign travelers is a long-term result of China's favorable visa policies.

Right now, China offers visa-free entry to citizens of 76 countries. Plus, travelers from 55 countries can take advantage of a 240-hour visa-free transit policy at 65 different entry points.