China records 23.3 million foreign border crossings in third quarter, up 15.6%

(ECNS) -- Foreign nationals made 23.272 million border crossings in China in the third quarter of 2026, up 15.6% from a year earlier, the National Immigration Administration said Tuesday.

At a news conference, administration spokesperson Lu Ning said immigration authorities nationwide inspected 192 million entries and exits in the third quarter, up 7.9% from a year earlier.

Foreign nationals entering China under visa-free policies totaled 8.992 million, accounting for 77.5% of all foreign arrivals, up 24.1% from a year earlier.

The top 10 countries of origin for foreign visitors were, in order, Russia, South Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, the United States, Mongolia, Japan, Singapore, Thailand and Australia. Together, they accounted for 63.9% of all foreign arrivals.

(By Gong Weiwei)