Visa facilitation steps boost number of foreign visitors

The number of foreigners coming to China visa-free has increased significantly in the first six months of the year, as the nation continues to open its doors wider for international travelers.

From January to June, immigration management authorities across China recorded a total of 13.64 million visa-free inbound trips made by foreigners, up 53.9 percent year-on-year, Lyu Ning, a spokeswoman for the National Immigration Administration, said on Wednesday.

These trips accounted for 71.2 percent of all inbound trips made by foreigners in the first half of the year, Lyu said.