During this year's Chinese National Day celebrations, inbound foreign tourist arrivals saw higher growth than outbound Chinese travel. This increase is attributed to the 144-hour visa-free policy and a number of initiatives that make it easier for foreign visitors to stay and consume in China.
According to data from Ctrip.com, foreign tourist bookings increased by 60 % compared to last year. Popular destinations for Chinese tourists include Japan, Thailand, South Korea and others, with most of these countries also being the main source of foreign visitors to China.
Also, cities with cultural and historical heritage such as Beijing, Xi'an and Nanjing have become popular destinations for domestic travellers.