Shenzhen welcomes over 5M international visitors

Shenzhen has welcomed a total of 5.01 million international visitors as of Aug. 4, hitting the 5-million mark 58 days earlier than it did last year, according to the Shenzhen General Station of Immigration Inspection.

A billboard promoting APEC "China Year" is seen at Terminal 3 of Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport. File photo

The surge in international travel is driven by China’s expanding visa-free transit policies, the global "China Travel" trend, and the APEC "China Year" initiatives, immigration authorities said.

Visa-free entry and APEC travel drive the boom

Data shows that 1.27 million foreign nationals entered China visa-free via Shenzhen this year, accounting for 50.9% of all foreign arrivals — a substantial 47.5% year-on-year increase.

Meanwhile, the number of visitors from APEC member economies arriving in Shenzhen reached 3.43 million, representing 68.6% of the foreign passenger total and marking a 23.6% year-on-year increase.

Arriving travelers use the e-channels to complete customs clearance at the Shenzhen airport.

Stuart Jacob, a British tourist visiting China for the first time under the visa-free policy, said the journey was long-awaited. “I’ve been learning Chinese for several years, and I absolutely love Chinese culture and food," he said upon arriving at Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport.

To accommodate the growing influx, Shenzhen border authorities have upgraded the online entry card system and introduced multilingual consultation services.

“The airport staff were incredibly welcoming,” said Carlos Martinez, a traveler from Spain. “They helped me use the online arrival card system, which saved me a lot of time. The entire immigration process was smooth and much faster than I expected.”

High-tech shopping and futuristic landmarks

The convenience of customs clearance, combined with the city’s hassle-free tax-refund policy, has boosted local consumer activity. Shenzhen’s tax-refund system is highly praised for its wide coverage, diverse payment channels, and rapid processing speed.

Various payment methods that can be used by international visitors are seen at a counter.

Shenzhen’s cutting-edge, homegrown electronics, such as smartphones, drones, smartwatches, and smart glasses, have become must-buy items for foreign visitors.

"I plan to buy some electronic gadgets and other Chinese-made goods in Huaqiangbei," said Ivana Maksimovic, a traveler from Serbia, referring to the city's famous electronics market.

Shenzhen’s role as a global tech hub is also reshaping local tourism. Traditional sightseeing spots are increasingly being complemented by high-tech experiences. Robot flagship stores, science museums, and drone test-flight bases have become the city's new go-to landmarks. Visitors note that the seamless integration of technology into Shenzhen’s daily life makes walking through the city feel like stepping into the future.

Summer air travel peak

The foreign travel boom coincides with China's bustling summer travel season, fueled by family vacations and student travel.

Domestic travelers check in at T3.

During the first month of the summer rush in July, Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport recorded robust growth. The airport handled approximately 2.9 million inbound passengers and another 2.9 million outbound passengers, with single-day peaks hitting 108,000 and 106,000 travelers, respectively.

To meet the soaring demand, the Shenzhen airport has increased routes to Northwest, Southwest, and North China. It launched a new route to Dunhuang and increased flights on 30 domestic routes to popular destinations, including Guiyang, Lanzhou, Lijiang, Dali, Xining, Haikou, and Haila'er.

The airport has also rolled out a "15-minute boarding" service. The new policy allows domestic travelers flying with China Southern Airlines without checked luggage to check in, clear security, and board their flights as long as they arrive at the gate at least 15 minutes before the scheduled departure.

Enhancing connectivity with APEC economies

Since the start of the summer travel peak, the Shenzhen airport has handled over 5,300 international and regional flights, transporting approximately 550,000 passengers.

Travelers clear customs at the international departure hall.

To facilitate the growth in APEC-related travel and the summer tourism rush, the airport has ramped up flights to Southeast Asia. Services have been added to major APEC destinations, including Singapore, Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Hanoi (Vietnam), and Jakarta (Indonesia). Shenzhen Airport now operates over 300 scheduled weekly flights to APEC member economies.

To reduce customs clearance times, the airport has implemented a trial for pre-flight baggage checks for arriving passengers. Additionally, the electronic entry system for foreign visitors has been upgraded with multi-language support, and intelligent translation machines have been installed at inspection counters to further boost clearance efficiency. The airport is also expanding the use of electronic boarding passes to make international travel more seamless.

Beyond technological upgrades, the Shenzhen airport has comprehensively improved its international linguistic environment. Multilingual signage in both foreign languages and Chinese has been upgraded across the terminal and outdoor areas. Nearly 400 new signs in Chinese, English, Japanese, and Korean have been installed along key passenger routes and activity zones, including international departures, arrivals, and transfers.

An AI flight assistant has been deployed in the international arrivals area. Supporting real-time voice conversations in seven languages, the digital assistant can accurately answer passengers' most frequently asked questions, offering instant and reliable guidance upon arrival.