23 sourced datasets on China travel

Inbound tourism (2025–2026)

China's inbound visitor numbers rebounded sharply in 2025 — the first sustained year of growth after several flat years — driven by the expansion of unilateral visa-free access and the 240-hour transit scheme.

China National Tourism Administration + UN Tourism Barometer

Visa-free access (2026)

China now grants 30-day unilateral visa-free entry to 38+ countries and 240-hour transit visa-free to 55+ countries. The UK and Canada were added in February 2026.

Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Safety ranking vs other major destinations

China ranks in the top 10 globally on the Global Peace Index, comparable to Japan and ahead of most Western countries on violent crime metrics.

Global Peace Index 2025

Daily budget by tier (USD, mainland China)

China is one of the most affordable major destinations for international visitors. Costs scale quickly with city — Shanghai, Beijing, and Shenzhen run ~30% higher than Chengdu or Kunming.

NihaoVisit market scan (Trip.com + Booking.com + Agoda averages)

High-speed rail coverage

China operates the world's largest HSR network at 47,000 km — connecting 550+ cities. Foreigners book via 12306.cn, Trip.com, or in-station kiosks.

China State Railway Group

Mobile payments (Alipay / WeChat Pay)

Linking a foreign Visa, Mastercard, or other international card to Alipay works reliably for ~92% of attempts and unlocks almost all of mainland China's merchant base.

Ant Group disclosures + NihaoVisit field test

Top 10 HSR routes — 2nd-class fare

Second-class HSR fare for the most-booked intercity routes by foreign visitors. Booked via Trip.com with a foreign card.

12306.cn + Trip.com cross-check

Visa-free country additions timeline (2024–2026)

Key unilateral visa-free additions since the November 2024 expansion. Each entry shows effective date and stay length.

Chinese MFA announcements

Monthly inbound visitor count (2025)

Monthly inbound foreign visitor count for 2025, in millions. Peak season June–August and October Golden Week.

China National Immigration Administration

Mid-range daily budget by city (USD)

Mid-range single-traveler daily budget for the top 20 visited cities. Includes hotel, meals, transit, and one paid attraction.

NihaoVisit market scan

Metro system coverage — top 20 cities

Operating metro line count and station count for the 20 largest Chinese metro systems.

China Urban Rail Transit Association

Mid-range restaurant average meal prices (USD)

Average per-person cost of a mid-range sit-down restaurant meal in the top 20 tourist cities. Beer/wine extra.

NihaoVisit market scan (TripAdvisor + Dianping averages)

Mid-range 4-star hotel average nightly rate (USD)

Average nightly rate for a 4-star hotel double room in the top 20 tourist cities. Excludes luxury 5-star and budget options.

NihaoVisit scan of Booking.com + Agoda + Trip.com averages

Monthly weather in top 12 China destinations (°C)

Average high/low temperatures and rainy days for the most-visited cities. Plan your trip around weather preferences — spring/autumn are most comfortable, summer is hot/humid, winter is cold/dry in the north.

China Meteorological Administration + Weather Underground historical data

Daily cost comparison by city tier (USD per person)

Average daily cost for a solo traveler in each tier. Budget = hostels, street food, public transport. Mid-range = 3-4 star hotels, mix of local and mid-range restaurants, some paid attractions. Luxury = 5-star hotels, fine dining, private transport.

NihaoVisit field research across 22 cities

Top 25 China attraction ticket prices (USD)

Official entry tickets for the most-visited attractions. Add ¥20-50 for special exhibitions (Treasure Gallery, audio guides). Most attractions have free admission for children under 1.2m.

Official attraction websites + Trip.com

HSR fare and duration matrix between major cities (USD, second class)

Second-class HSR fares and durations for the most-traveled routes. Fares in USD (¥7 ≈ $1). Most routes have 15-30 daily departures. Book via Trip.com for English booking with foreign cards.

12306.cn (China Railway official) + Trip.com

China inbound tourism 2018-2025 (millions of visitors)

Annual inbound visitor numbers to mainland China. The COVID-19 pandemic caused the 2020-2022 drop. The 2024-2025 rebound was driven by visa-free expansion, the 240-hour transit program, and pent-up travel demand.

China National Tourism Administration + UN World Tourism Barometer

China visa-free expansion timeline 2023-2026

China rapidly expanded unilateral visa-free access from 0 countries in late 2023 to 38+ countries by mid-2026. This is the single biggest driver of tourism growth.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC

Mobile payment adoption rates in China (2020-2026)

Mobile payment (Alipay + WeChat Pay) penetration in China. Adoption crossed 90% in urban areas by 2024. Foreign card integration via Alipay Tour Card has been the key unlock for international tourists.

People's Bank of China + Ant Group annual reports

China city safety index (composite score 0-100, higher = safer)

Composite safety scores from 2025 data covering violent crime, petty crime, traffic safety, food safety, and natural disaster risk. Sourced from local police statistics, Numbeo, and traveler reports.

Numbeo + local police statistics + traveler surveys