May Day Surge: Over 112M Travelers Cross China Borders

During this year’s May Day festivities from May 1-5, China’s immigration authorities managed an impressive 112.79 million cross-border trips, averaging 2.256 million daily—a 3.5% uptick from the previous year. The National Immigration Administration highlighted this as a testament to thriving domestic and international mobility.

The busiest day, May 2, saw 2.529 million travelers, driven by holiday excitement. Notably, 1.255 million foreigners visited, 12.5% more than last May Day, including a 14.7% increase in visa-free entrants at 436,000.

Border checks covered 531,000 transport vehicles, rising 16.6% year-on-year. Leveraging data-driven forecasts, officials optimized operations at every checkpoint, ensuring orderly and rapid processing.

Safety and efficiency defined the period, with no major disruptions reported. This influx energizes local economies through tourism spending and signals strong recovery from earlier travel slumps.

Experts view these numbers as a green light for expanded visa policies and infrastructure upgrades, promising sustained growth in China’s gateway role.