A traveler passes a departure tax refund service point at Hangzhou International Airport on Feb 6. [Photo/IC]

Zhejiang province recorded about 280,000 visa-free inbound foreign arrivals in 2025, according to data released by the Zhejiang General Station of Immigration Inspection on Feb 6.

In 2025, Zhejiang's ports handled more than 7.53 million inbound and outbound trips, up 14 percent year-on-year. Visa-free entries by foreign nationals rose 118.9 percent from a year earlier, reflecting the continued impact of China's visa facilitation policies, the authority said.

Over the past year, Zhejiang border inspection authorities have worked to improve the port business environment by implementing facilitation measures such as transit visa-free entry.

They also supported the opening of 28 international berths and significantly reduced clearance times for container and bulk cargo vessels, helping ensure the stable operation of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port as its annual container throughput exceeded 40 million twenty-foot equivalent units.

The authority expects inbound and outbound passenger flows at Zhejiang airports to reach about 180,000 trips during the upcoming Spring Festival holiday. Airports in Hangzhou, Ningbo, Wenzhou, Yiwu, and Zhoushan are expected to see increased traffic, with Hangzhou International Airport accounting for about 130,000 trips, or an average of 14,000 per day.

To cope with peak travel volumes, border inspection authorities will optimize on-site guidance facilities and signage and provide priority clearance services for elderly passengers, children, pregnant travelers, and those requiring assistance. Measures are in place to keep waiting times below 30 minutes.

Amid rising cross-border travel and growing interest among foreign visitors in experiencing Chinese New Year, Hangzhou International Airport has added self-service internet access kiosks at arrival card counters. The move aims to help first-time visitors who are unable to connect to airport internet services due to the lack of a Chinese mobile phone number.