Intl. passenger traffic at Shenzhen airport reaches record high

Travelers walk through the terminal at Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport beneath an “APEC China 2026” display. Photos from Shenzhen Special Zone Daily

Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport has seen 1.008 million passenger arrivals and departures involving travelers from APEC economies as of Sept. 6, reaching the 1-million mark 65 days earlier than last year and setting a record for the same period, according to statistics from the Shenzhen Airport Immigration Inspection Station.

Since the beginning of the year, the Shenzhen airport immigration authorities have processed more than 1.27 million international entries and exits, an increase of 31.1% year on year and a record high for the same period.

“Among foreign visitors, those from APEC member economies accounted for 79.4%,” said Liang Rui, head of the Border Inspection Division of the Shenzhen Airport Immigration Inspection Station, adding that Malaysians, South Koreans and Singaporeans ranked among the largest groups.

The surge comes as China continues to expand its 240-hour visa-free transit policy, broadening the list of countries eligible for visa-free entry. The authority has also introduced a series of measures to make travel to China more convenient, including online submission of arrival cards for foreigners and streamlined procedures for tax refunds on departure. These measures have helped fuel the growing popularity of “China Travel,” said Liang.

Travelers wait at immigration counters at Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport.

As one of the major international transportation hubs in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the Shenzhen airport currently operates direct passenger routes to 15 APEC member economies. Foreign passenger traffic has remained strong, particularly as a series of events under the “APEC China Year,” including the APEC SME Business Forum 2026, the 2026 APEC Ministerial Meeting on Forestry and the Asia-Pacific Media Forum, have been held in Shenzhen this year.

Official statistics showed that among passengers from APEC member economies entering Shenzhen, those traveling for business visits, sightseeing and leisure accounted for 70.5%, up 31.7% year on year. Passengers entering under visa-free arrangements accounted for 65.1%, an increase of 42.3% from the same period last year.

An immigration officer checks a traveler’s documents at Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport.

To ensure smooth clearance procedures, the Shenzhen airport immigration authority has developed a dedicated service plan, including special channels for APEC delegates at the airport, improvements to the online arrival-card submission system for foreigners, and upgrades to intelligent information-collection equipment to enhance clearance efficiency.

In addition, an integrated passenger service center for arriving travelers began operations at the Shenzhen airport in August.

The center provides information on travel routes, cultural and tourism attractions, telecommunications and payment services, explanations of entry and exit policies, and emergency assistance.The center has so far served more than 70,000 foreign visitors arriving in Shenzhen.