Foreign Inbound Tourism to China (Excluding Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan) more than doubled in 2024 comp. with pre-COVID 2019

[Moses]

As per ChatGPT:

 

Main Figures for Foreign Inbound Tourism to China (Excluding Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan), 2019, 2022–2025

 

• 2019: 31.9 million foreign arrivals; $35.83 billion revenue.
• 2022: <500,000** foreign arrivals (down **>98% from 2019); $9.58 billion revenue (down 73% from 2019).
• 2023: 35.5 million foreign arrivals (up >700% from 2022, 11% above 2019); $24.8 billion revenue (up 159% from 2022, down 31% from 2019).
• 2024: 64.882 million foreign arrivals (up 82.9% from 2023, 103% above 2019, >12,000% from 2022); $94.2 billion revenue (up 280% from 2023, 163% above 2019, 883% from 2022).
• 2025 (Q1): 9.215 million foreign arrivals (up 40.2% from Q1 2024, exceeding 2022’s full-year total); revenue data unavailable, but 2024’s $94.2 billion suggests strong growth.

 

Sources: Ministry of Culture and Tourism, National Immigration Administration (via china-briefing.com, travelchinaguide.com, mize.tech).

[a-447]

I have recently returned from Beijing, on my second visit.

I have to say, the people were very friendly and helpful. They seemed much nicer than the Chinese I've seen in Japan on those package tours.

Also, the streets are very clean with no litter in sight.

I just wish they'd stop spitting.

I was worried about internet censorship but it was not a problem, as I had global roaming from my Australian telco. Everything goes through Sydney first and bypasses Chinese censorship.

I'm now considering another Chinese trip. I had a great time.

 

[khaolakguy]

2 hours ago, a-447 said:

I'm now considering another Chinese trip. I had a great time.

That's great! Hopefully you will find time to update us on what and where was good or not!

[a-447]

9 hours ago, khaolakguy said:

That's great! Hopefully you will find time to update us on what and where was good or not!

I only spent a week in Beijing on a quick trip from Japan.

I went on Klook tours to the wall in Mutianyu and to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. 

The wall is a couple of hours by bus from downtown, but it's worth it because it's not so crowded. Last time I was there I used the toboggan to come down, which was a lot of fun. But now they won't let you on if you are over 60! So we caught the cable car.
 

And now you need a reservation the day before to enter Tiananmen Square. But if you go on a tour you get to bypass the long lines to get into the Forbidden City. You basically just walk straight in. It also wasn't particularly crowded because the government is now limiting the numbet of tourists per day.

The rest of Beijing we did by ourselves. The main problem is the lack of signage telling you where the subways are so you can get home. If you are lucky enough to find a map, there is often no 'you are here' symbol, which makes it useless. But a couple of times the locals helped us out with a smile and a 'follow ne'.

The nightly area of Santilun was fantastic! We got out of the subway but didn't know which direction to walk. Two young girls kindly took us there! Heaps of restaurants and bars to choose from.

It was very hot and we were often in need of a drink. There are vending machines everywhere but they don't take cash - you need the wechat or alipay app on your phone. We both had wechat but the app was so confusing and complicated. Even some of the locals gave up! One lady took pity on me and used her app to buy me a drink! Alipay wanted all kinds of information and also facial ID - just to buy a bottle of water!!!
 

The subway is clean and even in the morning it was less crowded than the Japanese rush-hour. You don't need to buy a ticket - just use your credit card. So convenient! Be prepared to go through security at the station.

There are cameras looking down on you everywhere you go and facial recognition is the name of the game. 

I've been to Shanghai before and absolutely loved it. And last year I went to Macau, which is also well worth a visit.

I was planning to go to Xian next week but I decided on somewhere closer, so I'm off to Kuala Lumpur again. This time I'll be travelling by myself so I may get a bit of horizontal action!

 

[PeterRS]

1 hour ago, a-447 said:

The nightly area of Santilun was fantastic! We got out of the subway but didn't know which direction to walk. Two young girls kindly took us there! Heaps of restaurants and bars to choose from.

Sanlitun is a great area for entertainment. The ground floor bar with its chain mail decor in the high-end and very contemporary Opposite House Hotel was always cruisy. Sadly it closed on June 30 last year ago for conversion into a retail mall.

Did you have time to visit Destination Cub? It's the city's liveliest gay bar, always packed with great looking Beijing guys at the week-ends when it sometimes stays open till 5:00 am.

[Tomtravel]

2 hours ago, a-447 said:

 

I was planning to go to Xian next week

I was in Xian in March, very cold. Terracota Army site was half emty though, thats the benefit. Interestingly did not meet any Chinese guys, but one postgraduate student from Central-Africa, who was very thirsty for a European man. He did not like Chinese food nor Chinese guys. Our date was so good that I made an unplanned return trip from Chengdu to meet him again. In China these train jumps are fast and affordable!

About Beijing - the first day I arrived I saw worst smog possible - the sun was just a small dot in the sky. I went to the Tiananmen Square and with all the revolution theme in gray sky it felt really depressing. The next day weather and pollution improved and the city became more friendly again.
The Wall and Terracota Army/Necropolis are both unforgettable experiences.

[a-447]

1 hour ago, PeterRS said:

Did you have time to visit Destination Cub? 

No, as I was with a straight friend.