South China’s Guangdong Province is seeing a strong rebound in inbound tourism and visitor spending, driven by China’s expanded visa-free policies and streamlined travel measures.

In Shenzhen, land crossings by foreign nationals have surpassed 2 million entries and exits so far this year, reaching the milestone 20 days earlier than in 2025 and marking a year-on-year increase of more than 30 percent. Visa-free arrivals alone climbed to almost 600,000, up 52 percent from last year, accounting for nearly 60 percent of total inbound foreign visitors in 2026.

To accommodate the surge, border checkpoints such as Futian Port have introduced dedicated e-channels and enhanced clearance systems.

Beyond easier entry, simplified tax refund schemes are boosting retail activity, with many travellers drawn to Shenzhen’s reputation as a tech hub, shopping for cutting-edge gadgets while experiencing the city’s fast-evolving innovation landscape.