China opens its doors to more travellers
China recently celebrated an extraordinary ‘Super Golden Week’ from October 1–8, an eight-day public holiday that combined National Day and the Mid-Autumn Festival.
As the country’s busiest leisure travel period of the year, this is when millions of Chinese travellers set off on their travels, filling airports, trains and scenic sites nationwide. Naturally, we traditionally black out this period to avoid the crowds and ensure smooth operations and availability for our clients.
Golden Week offers an opportunity to highlight the country’s most popular destinations and autumn is also one of the best times to explore China. Beijing, famous for its historic landmarks such as the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace; Shanghai, renowned for its futuristic skyline, the Bund and vibrant cosmopolitan culture; Xi’an, known for the Terracotta Army and as the starting point of the ancient Silk Road; and Chengdu, celebrated as the home of giant pandas and spicy Sichuan cuisine, these were all top destinations during the recent holiday.
Many travellers ventured beyond China’s iconic tourist hotspots, seeking lesser-known locations with fewer crowds and authentic rural experiences. Yunnan Province, famed for the Ancient Tea Horse Road, offers exploration of Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La – key destinations along the historic trade route dating back over 1,200 years, where tea, horses and culture once flowed between Yunnan, Sichuan and Tibet. The region now also connects to Laos via the Yunnan-Laos cross-border railway, linking Kunming, Pu’er and Xishuangbanna in China to Luang Prabang and Vientiane in Laos, enabling convenient multi-country exploration.
Travellers also opted for China’s high-speed railway system, which set a record for total passenger trips on the first day of the holiday. The network, the largest in the world at over 46,000 km, connects virtually all the major cities and numerous regional hubs. Achieving speeds of up to 350 kph, it continues to redefine how travellers experience the country, efficiently linking urban centres with rural gems.
Meanwhile, inbound tourism continues to rise. This year’s enhanced visa-free entry policies, now benefitting travellers from 76 countries – and soon Swedish nationals – have made China more accessible than ever. The country’s ongoing initiatives to improve payment access and language support – from international credit card linkage on Alipay and WeChat Pay to AI translation tools at airports and tax refund services – are transforming the visitor experience.
As we look ahead, autumn truly stands out as the golden season to visit China – a journey that promises beauty, culture and innovation at every turn. Whether wandering through Beijing’s majestic Imperial Gardens, cruising the scenic Yangtze River, or hiking Yunnan’s lush terraced hills, this is when China shines brightest. We look forward to welcoming guests to discover its wonders in 2026 and beyond!
As always, please reach out to Asian Trails China for expert travel planning and destination advice.
Xiaolin Zhang
Managing Director, Asian Trails China & Hong Kong
