BUSINESS

Travel to China for Lunar New Year Jumps as Visa-Free Policies Spur Interest

Published: Feb. 12, 2026 12:37 p.m. GMT+8

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Foreign visitors walk near the Bell Tower in Beijing on Feb. 2. Photo: VCG

International travel to China during the Lunar New Year is gaining momentum, bucking the traditional slowdown as visa-free policies and interest in the holiday atmosphere and northern winter activities draw visitors to major hubs and smaller cities alike.

Data from major online travel agencies indicates a sharp rise in interest. Qunar.com Inc. reported a nearly 30% year-on-year increase in domestic flight bookings by non-Chinese passport holders for the holiday period. Similarly, Fliggy data showed that bookings by foreigners for the Lunar New Year holiday jumped more than fourfold in early January compared to the same period a year earlier.

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International travel to China during Lunar New Year surged, with Qunar.com reporting a 30% rise in non-Chinese passport bookings and Fliggy showing a fourfold jump in foreign holiday bookings.
Top destinations remain major cities, but interest in lower-tier cities grew sharply; Asian travelers dominate, with Russian bookings up 471% due to visa exemptions.
Despite growth, overall inbound tourism is still modest for Lunar New Year, with 82 million foreign entries in 2025, up 26.4% year-on-year, and Alipay spending by foreigners up 142%.

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Who’s Who

Qunar.com Inc.: Qunar.com Inc. is a major online travel agency that has reported significant increases in international travel to China. They observed a nearly 30% year-on-year rise in domestic flight bookings by non-Chinese passport holders for the Lunar New Year. Additionally, Qunar data showed a remarkable surge in flight bookings to cities like Guilin and Datong, and substantial increases from long-haul markets such as Argentina, the Netherlands, Italy, and France.

Fliggy: Fliggy is an online travel agency that has reported significant increases in international travel to China. Their data shows that bookings by foreigners for the Lunar New Year holiday jumped more than fourfold in early January compared to the same period a year earlier. Fliggy also indicates that travelers from South Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Singapore are top source markets for inbound tourism.

Trip.com Group Ltd.: Trip.com Group Ltd. is a major online travel agency that has reported key data regarding international travel to China. They identified Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Beijing, and Chengdu as top destinations. Moreover, their data showed a significant 471% year-on-year surge in bookings from Russia due to mutual visa-exemption policies.

Guilin Tang Dynasty Tours Co. Ltd.: Zhou Xiaoguang, the general manager of Guilin Tang Dynasty Tours Co. Ltd., noted that while Southeast Asian tourists are increasingly drawn to China's festive atmosphere and northern snow activities, Lunar New Year remains a shoulder season for inbound tourism. He explained that many international travelers find China too cold during Spring Festival, and the surge in domestic travel creates crowds and higher prices, impacting the experience for foreign visitors.

240hoursinchina: 240hoursinchina is an inbound tour operator. Chen Ming, its founder, noted that while foreign tourists are no longer explicitly avoiding China during the Lunar New Year holiday, a trend of foreigners specifically visiting to experience the "New Year flavor" has yet to fully form.

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.: Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.'s Alipay reported a significant increase in transaction volume by foreign visitors in China. In 2025, the volume rose by 142%, with November being the peak month for spending. This indicates a substantial contribution to consumption from international travelers.

Alipay: Alipay (operated by Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.) reported a significant increase in transaction volume by foreign visitors in China. In 2025, this volume rose by 142%, with November registering the highest spending. This data indicates a strong influx and increased consumption by foreign travelers in China.

AI generated, for reference only