China’s border inspection agencies recorded 160 million entries and exits during the third quarter of this year, a year-on-year increase of 30.1 percent, according to the National Immigration Administration.
Foreign citizens made a total of 8.186 million inbound trips, that is, 48.8 percent more than in the same period last year. Of these trips, 4.885 million were made without a visa, which constitutes a year-on-year expansion of 78.6 percent, according to data from the administration.
China issued new visa-free entry and transit policies in July, granting 144-hour visa-free entry to foreigners visiting the southern island province of Hainan as part of tourist groups registered in the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau.
In addition, its 144-hour visa-free transit policy has been extended to three other ports of entry in the provinces of Henan and Yunnan, in the center and southwest of the country, respectively.
It should be noted that one of the most visited points in the country is the Great Wall of China – one of the New 7 Wonders of the World since 2007.