Beijing’s Travel Revival Gains Momentum as Visitor Numbers Surge

Beijing’s international travel is rebounding strongly, surpassing 20 million passenger trips this year. Foreign arrivals are up sharply, boosted by expanded visa‑free access covering dozens of countries. Improved border processes are easing congestion, while visitors arrive for tourism, business, and personal reasons. The diverse demand and policy changes signal a steady, long‑term recovery in the capital’s global mobility.

Beijing is experiencing its most robust wave of international travel in half a decade, with looser visa rules and renewed global interest pushing cross-border movement close to pre-pandemic levels. Local officials report that the capital’s entry and exit checkpoints have already processed more than 20 million passenger trips this year—surpassing the total figure for 2024 and marking the busiest year since 2020.

A notable share of this momentum comes from foreign visitors. Overseas travellers now represent roughly 30 percent of all crossings, with more than 6 million entries and exits recorded so far—up 34.5 percent from the same stretch last year.

Authorities attribute much of this upswing to expanded visa-free access. About 1.86 million inbound journeys have taken place under visa-exemption schemes, nearly double last year’s number and accounting for around 60 percent of all foreign arrivals. Beijing now benefits from reciprocal visa-free arrangements with 29 nations, as well as unilateral exemptions for citizens of 48 countries spanning Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East.

On the ground, airport and border operators have rolled out digital arrival forms and enhanced guidance services to help ease congestion as traveller volumes rise.

What’s bringing people in? The motivations are diverse. Nearly half of foreign passengers are visiting as tourists, while the rest are split between business trips and family or friend visits. This balanced mix indicates that Beijing’s global connections are re‑establishing across both professional and personal lines—not just through sightseeing.

After several tentative rebounds in recent years, this latest surge signals a more stable recovery. Beijing’s tourism revival appears to be driven not only by pent‑up demand, but by deliberate policy shifts aimed at making international travel smoother, faster, and more appealing.