BEIJING – China's border inspection agencies handled a record 369 million inbound and outbound crossings in the first half of 2026, up 10.8 percent year-on-year, official data showed on Friday.

Visa-free entries by foreign nationals surged 30.6 percent year-on-year to surpass 17.8 million, accounting for 77.7 percent of all foreign arrivals, the National Immigration Administration said at a press briefing.

During this period, mainland residents made 176 million cross-border trips, while residents of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan made 147 million trips, up 10.7 percent and 8.1 percent year on year, respectively.

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Foreign nationals made more than 45.9 million trips, an increase of 20.6 percent, the administration noted.

China currently offers unilateral visa-free entry to nationals of 50 countries. Meanwhile, nationals from 55 countries can now utilize the 240-hour visa-free transit program to enter China via 65 designated ports.