Foreign Tourists Move Beyond Check-in Travel in China
China's 15th Five-Year Plan for Culture and Tourism aims to launch more culturally rich products for international markets by 2030. Shanghai's inbound tourism is shifting: foreign visitors wear hanfu, learn to make xiaolongbao and ride autonomous vehicles. A Yuyuan photo studio serves up to 100 groups daily at peak, with 60-70% foreign tourists; top five source countries this summer were Russia, South Korea, the US, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia. Shanghai launched the 'Huxiaoyou' service center supporting 10 languages and 120+ currencies for foreign card payments. As of early September, 3.142 million visitors entered under visa-free and 240-hour transit policies, over 66.4% of foreign arrivals.
Impact and considerations
The upgrade of inbound travel experiences and visa-free policy dividends impose new requirements on destination service providers, payment platforms and travel agencies in product design and international service capabilities.
Key points
- China's 15th Five-Year Plan for Culture and Tourism aims to launch more culturally rich products for international markets by 2030.
- A Yuyuan photo studio in Shanghai serves up to 100 groups daily at peak, with 60-70% foreign tourists.
- Top five source countries this summer were Russia, South Korea, the US, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia.
- Shanghai launched the 'Huxiaoyou' service center supporting 10 languages and 120+ currencies for foreign card payments, with 100 offline centers planned.
- As of early September, 3.142 million visitors entered under visa-free and 240-hour transit policies, over 66.4% of foreign arrivals.
- Travel agencies are adding diverse optional experience modules on top of classic attractions, making inbound services more comprehensive.
Sources and time
- Primary source
- 品橙旅游
- Other sources
- 0
- First source publication
- 23 Sept 2026, 08:00
- Page published
- 23 Sept 2026, 18:03
- Last updated
- 23 Sept 2026, 08:00
- Original links
- Pinchain Tourism：外国游客不再“打卡就走” 入境游有新花样 – 品橙旅游 (opens in a new tab)Primary source · zh · Published 23 Sept 2026, 08:00