Buzzwords such as "China Travel" and "China Cool" are showing no signs of cooling on overseas social media this summer, with some foreign vloggers even coining the hashtag "China Summer."
George Galloway, former British Member of Parliament and leader of the Workers Party, shared his impressions of China in a July social media post. "It's hard to describe just how far out in front of us is China 2026," he said. "Luckily record numbers are checking out for themselves."
A screenshot shows a post by George Galloway, former British Member of Parliament and leader of the Workers Party, on overseas social media.
Omar Acone, an Italian internet user, left a comment that translates as: "We all want to go to China because we've clearly understood it's an amazing place and the people are incredibly kind. A millennia-old culture combined with a future we don't have here yet. Need I say more?"
A screenshot shows a post by Omar Acone, an Italian internet user, on overseas social media.
Foreign visitors this summer are enjoying cool scenery from Changbai Mountain in northeast China to Zhangjiajie in central China and Liupanshui in southwest China. They are also browsing night markets, trying out intangible cultural heritage crafts and experiencing autonomous driving and AI technology in nearly 500 Chinese cities.
China's National Immigration Administration reported over 22.91 million foreign entries in the first half of 2026, up 20.4 percent year on year, with visa-free entries accounting for 77.7 percent of the total.
Bookings by European travelers have surged since June, according to data on China-bound flight ticket sales from an online travel platform. Ticket sales to China from Finland rose 12.4-fold year on year, while those from Greece nearly doubled.
The growth follows expanded visa facilitation. China has granted unilateral visa-free access to 50 countries and signed mutual visa-exemption agreements with 29 countries. Travelers from 55 eligible countries can also use a 240-hour visa-free transit policy to enter China through any of 65 ports of entry.
Improved tourism experiences, convenient transport, easier payment services and streamlined departure tax refund schemes have fueled the surge in inbound tourism.
A survey by the China Tourism Academy found that more than 60 percent of inbound tourists now cite experiencing Chinese culture as their main purpose, with many visiting film locations and electric vehicle factories or even seeking medical treatment.
Wang Yiwei, deputy dean of the Academy of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era at Renmin University of China, told People's Daily Online that the shift reflects the enduring appeal of Chinese culture.
Dai Bin, president of the China Tourism Academy, said the sense of ease created by China's openness and confidence has become an increasingly important factor attracting foreign visitors.
A screenshot shows a poll released by the Pew Research Center.
A poll released by the Pew Research Center on July 15 found that respondents in 27 countries and regions viewed China more favorably than the U.S. It marked the first time since 2002 that China's overall image ranked higher than that of the U.S. in more than 70 percent of surveyed countries.
