Foreigners flock to China’s Shenzhen as visa-free entries surge 160%
Visa-free policies have helped the southern tech hub become a popular destination for overseas tourists, particularly from elsewhere in Asia
Shenzhen, China’s southern tech hub, has reported a swell of overseas visitors this year, an influx attributed to the country’s expansion of visa-free entry and its integration of the Greater Bay Area, a region that incorporates Guangdong province, Hong Kong and Macau.
The city’s international airport has recorded over 152,000 visa-free entries by foreign nationals in 2025, a year-on-year surge of 160.3 per cent. Total foreign passenger entries rose by 54.6 per cent year-on-year to reach 531,000.
To keep pace with demand, a direct flight to Dubai from the city is scheduled to start in July, and multiple international routes were added this year to urban centres like Vientiane, Osaka, Singapore, Tokyo, Bangkok and Hanoi.
“Shenzhen is very fun, more modern, less expensive, so I love going there on weekends, both for leisure and business,” said Marc Guyon, founder of Hong Kong-based Club France International.