Shanghai plans easier travel for international visitors

Shanghai plans to make travel more convenient for international visitors, with improvements to payment services, internet access, multilingual assistance, and tax refunds under its new five-year tourism development plan.

The plan aims to strengthen Shanghai's role as a leading gateway for inbound tourism in China and a demonstration zone for the integration of culture and tourism. By 2030, Shanghai aims to welcome more than 10 million inbound tourist visits annually, with the city's total tourism revenue expected to exceed 900 billion yuan ($134.5 billion).

Easier travel for international visitors

Shanghai will improve mobile and internet services for inbound visitors and make commonly used apps easier to access and use. Multilingual services will be expanded at hotels, museums, tourist attractions, and visitor information centers.

The city also plans to make international payment methods more convenient by adding contactless payment terminals at airports and major shopping districts. Departure tax refund procedures will be improved, with more stores offering refund-upon-purchase service.

The Easy Go one-stop inbound travel service platform will be further developed to provide multilingual travel information, itinerary recommendations, and ticket booking services.

Shanghai will also improve one-stop service centers for international visitors at airports and payment service centers at cruise terminals.

Other measures include improvements to foreign currency exchange at ports of entry, luggage storage and delivery, family-friendly facilities, and connections between major transport hubs and local tourist services.

More to see and experience

Shanghai plans to develop more cultural experiences in historic water towns such as Zhujiajiao, Nanxiang, and Sijing, including traditional folk activities, intangible cultural heritage events, and nighttime tours.

Industrial heritage sites and historic buildings will be developed into new places to visit. The city will further improve tourism and leisure experiences along the Huangpu River and Suzhou Creek, while developing more tourism activities in neighborhoods, parks, and rural areas.

Shanghai plans to develop its role as an Asian performing arts hub by attracting international premieres and supporting homegrown music festivals. Museums and other cultural venues will be encouraged to extend their opening hours.

The plan also calls for more travel options for older adults, families with children, and young people, alongside emerging experiences such as yacht tourism and low-altitude sightseeing.

Tourism growth at a glance

Shanghai welcomed 9.36 million inbound tourist visits in 2025. The city received 425 million tourist visits overall and earned 672.37 billion yuan in total tourism revenue, representing average annual growth of 12.39 percent and 16.45 percent, respectively, from 2020 to 2025.

The number of commercial performances reached 61,400 in 2025, double the 2020 figure, while more than 1,500 high-quality museum and art exhibitions drew over 50 million visitors.