China's border crossings surged to 460 million between January and August 2025, marking a 14.9% year-on-year increase, according to data released by the National Immigration Administration (NIA) at the Global Public Security Cooperation Forum in Lianyungang. The figures highlight growing international mobility amid China's expanding openness.
Mainland residents accounted for 220 million crossings (+15.4%), while 180 million involved residents from Hong Kong, Macao, and the Taiwan region (+11.2%). Foreign nationals contributed 51.27 million entries, a sharp 27.8% rise, with 62.1% of these arrivals utilizing visa-free policies – a 52.1% spike from 2024.
Transportation activity mirrored this trend, with 24.48 million vehicles processed (+16.2%). Air travel led growth at 17.1%, followed by motor vehicles (+16.4%), while maritime and rail traffic saw modest increases.
The NIA attributed the surge to China's deepening global integration, noting increased outbound travel by Chinese citizens and growing foreign engagement in business, tourism, and education. Officials pledged to streamline immigration policies further, enhance border management systems, and support cross-border collaboration under national development strategies.
