China Tourism

Entering 21th century, propelled by continuous economic growth, the deepening of reform and opening up policy, and a substantial increase in residents’ income, China's tourism industry had witnessed unprecedented development. The massive inbound and outbound tourism markets had drawn global attention, and the domestic market had been steadily expanding. However, from 2020 to 2022, the COVID-19 pandemic brought China's tourism industry to a standstill for three years. Fortunately, in 2023 after the epidemic, the industry has gradually rebounded and showed an overall positive trend, demonstrating strong recovery momentum and development potential.

 With the continuous development, China has gradually become one of the world's crucial travel destinations, with its inbound tourism market consistently attracting significant attention. In 2013, the Chinese government put forward the “Belt and Road Initiative”, which further spurred the development of the inbound tourism industry. From 2013 to 2019, the inbound tourism market witnessed a steady expansion. However, from 2020 to 2023, it came to a standstill due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since the end of 2023, with the release of travel restrictions after the epidemic and the continuous optimization of the visa-free policies, the inbound tourism market has been gradually rebounding to its pre-epidemic level. In the days to come, China inbound tourism is expected to thrive.

 See China Inbound Tourism by Year:  

  
 Top 10 Cities for Overseas Tourists:

1. Shanghai	2. Shenzhen	3. Guangzhou	4. Beijing	5. Chengdu
6. Hangzhou	7. Xi'an	8. Xiamen	9. Chongqing	10. Zhuhai

 Top 10 Attractions among Inbound Tourists:

Forbidden City	Mutianyu Great Wall
Terracotta Army	West Lake (Xi Hu)
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park	Jiuzhaigou National Park
Gulangyu Island	Yellow Mountain
The Bund & Huangpu River	Yalong Bay

 The continuous optimization of visa policies, the extensive dissemination of the “China Travel” topics on social media, and the strong allure of Chinese culture and natural scenery all contribute to inbound tourism’s recovery and thriving.

However, the inbound tourism still confronts several challenges. The global tourism market is intensely competitive, with other countries actively vying for inbound tourists. Also, payment barriers during travels in China pose a significant hurdle. For instance, international tourists may find it difficult to use their native payment methods like certain overseas credit cards, and the complex procedures for registering and using popular local mobile payment platforms such as Alipay and WeChat Pay can be a headache. Moreover, obstacles in booking scenic spot tickets also exist. Some ticketing systems are only available in Chinese, and the lack of international-friendly interfaces makes it hard for foreign tourists to navigate. Additionally, the tourism infrastructure in some regions remains imperfect, and there is a shortage of high-quality tour guides and other professional talents.
 Upon entering the 21st century, Chinese people’s income increased significantly, and their consumption concepts also underwent a transformation. The number of outbound tourists in China soared from less than 10 million in 2000 to nearly 160 million in 2019, making China one of the world's largest sources of outbound tourists.

Nevertheless, the sudden outbreak of the pandemic brought the Chinese outbound tourism industry to a standstill for three years. After the full resumption of normal activities following the end of the epidemic-related restrictions in 2023, outbound tourism hit the bottom and then accelerated its development. So far, it has been on an upward growth trend.
 Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, South Korea, the United States, Macau, Vietnam

 See China Outbound Tourism by Year:

Over the past decade, the domestic tourism market has experienced a volatile development phase. It reached its peak in 2019, followed by a three-year slump, and then staged a robust recovery in 2023.

Currently, competition in the domestic tourism market is intensifying. To attract more tourists, regions across the country are actively enhancing the quality of tourism services, optimizing the tourism environment, and introducing diversified tourism products. These endeavors have not only enhanced tourists’ travel experiences but also spurred the prosperity and development of the domestic tourism market.

Despite facing numerous challenges, the domestic tourism market still has vast development potential. With the further increase in residents' income, the transformation of consumption concepts, and the continuous improvement of tourism infrastructure, the domestic tourism market is anticipated to maintain a growth trajectory in the future.
 Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Xi'an, Chongqing, Shenzhen, Nanjing, Wuhan
 

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Further Reading: History of China Tourism    China Tours     Top 10 China Destinations for First Time Travelers