China’s Tourism Boom: Record Visitors and Industrial Tourism Rise

China’s tourism sector is firing on all cylinders. In 2025, the country’s A-level scenic spots welcomed a staggering 7.51 billion visitors, generating 554.49 billion yuan ($76.5 billion) in revenue, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Meanwhile, Shanghai has emerged as the national leader in departure tax refunds, processing 201,000 slips worth 1.92 billion yuan in the first five months of 2026 — a 300% year-on-year surge. And a new trend is taking shape: industrial tourism, where visitors flock to factories and tech hubs for immersive, high-tech experiences.

Record-Breaking Year for Scenic Spots

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s 2025 Statistical Bulletin, reported by Xinhua, paints a picture of a sector in full stride. By the end of 2025, China had 16,994 A-level scenic spots employing 1.739 million people directly. The 7.51 billion visitors represented robust domestic demand, while cultural institutions also thrived: 1,879 art performance troupes staged 392,000 shows, and 740 public art museums hosted 11,000 exhibitions attracting 78.86 million visitors — a 9.4% year-on-year increase.

Shanghai Leads in Departure Tax Refunds

International visitors are spending big. CCTV News reported that Shanghai Customs processed 201,000 departure tax refund slips in the first five months of 2026, covering 1.92 billion yuan in tax-free sales. The number of slips surged 300% year-on-year, while sales value rose 62%. Shanghai now accounts for approximately 40% of the national total, ranking first among all Chinese cities.

This surge is driven by China’s expanded visa-free policies. In 2025, China recorded 154.5 million inbound tourist arrivals, up 17.1% year-on-year, including 35.17 million foreign tourists. Visa-free access for citizens of 38 countries and a 240-hour transit policy for travelers from 54 countries have been key catalysts, as the Chinese government noted. International flights recovered to 93% of 2019 levels by mid-2025.

Industrial Tourism: A New Frontier

Perhaps the most intriguing development is the rise of industrial tourism. Shenzhen’s Huaqiangbei district — known as “China’s First Electronics Street” — has become a flagship destination. CCTV News documented how the area has transformed from a bustling electronics market into a full-fledged tourism attraction.

The Huaqiangbei Museum, opened in 2020, chronicles the district’s evolution from farmland to global electronics hub. Its centerpiece: an art installation made of 330 circuit boards, complemented by an inverted city neon sandbox ceiling that has become a popular photo spot. “The museum exhibition is about discovering the beauty of industrial production and technological manufacturing,” said Wang Xiaojun, the museum’s curator. “It is not just an independent exhibition space, but a bridge connecting history and the present, exhibits and industry.”

Beyond the museum, the 1.45-square-kilometer Huaqiangbei commercial district houses 35 specialized electronics markets. In 2025, its transaction volume exceeded 480 billion yuan. Daily visitor traffic reaches 700,000, including over 7,000 foreign tourists. A new lineup of innovative electronics — AI glasses, companion robots, drones, translation earphones, pocket cameras, smart guitars, and AI learning machines — has driven AI-related product sales up by more than 55%, according to Xu Yixian of the Futian District Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism and Sports Bureau. Hotel occupancy in the area consistently exceeds 90%.

Policy Support and the “Experience + Consumption” Loop

On June 2, 2026, seven central government departments jointly issued a notice on promoting industrial culture, protecting industrial heritage, and developing industrial tourism, as China Youth Net reported. The policy outlines eight priority areas, including industrial heritage surveys, improved protection, cultural value interpretation, and enriched tourism product supply.

Shenzhen has already moved ahead. The city now has 39 provincial-level industrial tourism sites and 8 municipal-level demonstration sites. Departure tax refund stores in Huaqiangbei have expanded to 197, covering flagship stores of Huawei, Xiaomi, OPPO, and DJI. City-wide, departure tax refund sales rose 1.23 times year-on-year from January to May 2026, with “buy-and-immediately-refund” sales up 72.7%, according to Wang Qingmin of the Shenzhen Tax Service.

“The new measures have a very significant promoting effect on inspiring overseas tourists to transform from visitors of industrial tourism to consumers of ‘Made in China,’” said Zhong Yaqin, Deputy Director of the Institute of Cultural Industries at Shenzhen University.

Industrial Study Tours: Educating the Next Generation

The industrial tourism trend extends to education. Shenzhen’s drone bases and science museums are hosting a surge in study tour groups. Jiang Xiaotong, Government Affairs Director at Shenzhen Gaogao Innovation Technology Development Co., reported that from January to May 2026, the company received nearly 100 batches of study tour groups with nearly 3,000 participants — a 172% year-on-year increase. “Industrial study tours expand children’s understanding and awareness of the real world,” Zhong Yaqin added. “They may touch upon some career interests, but more importantly, they build a more holistic cognitive framework and interdisciplinary perspective.”

What’s Next

China’s tourism sector is demonstrating remarkable resilience and innovation. With record domestic visitor numbers, surging inbound tourism driven by visa liberalization, and the emergence of industrial tourism as a new growth engine, the industry is diversifying beyond traditional scenic spots. The key question now is whether the Huaqiangbei model can be replicated in other industrial cities across China — and how the seven-department policy framework will translate into action at the provincial and municipal levels. For travelers and investors alike, China’s tourism story is far from over.