Fueled by favorable factors such as optimized visa policies, robust tourism interest, and increased international flight capacity, China has witnessed a notable rise in foreign arrivals at major international airports during the five-day May Day holiday.According to the Beijing Border Inspection Station, a total of 162,000 passenger trips were recorded in the first three days of the May Day holiday, representing a 21.5 percent increase over last year.

During this period, ports across the city recorded 27,000 inbound trips, an 80.8 percent year-on-year increase. Notably, Daxing International Airport alone saw over 7,200 foreign arrivals, doubling last year's figure.

Among these, 16,000 passenger trips were made by international travelers benefiting from visa exemptions and the 240-hour visa-free transit policy, marking a 2.2-fold increase over the previous year.

In Shanghai, international arrivals also saw a sharp increase. The Shanghai Border Inspection Station projected that total passenger trips at the city's various ports would reach 594,000 between May 1 and 5, a 30.7 percent year-on-year rise.

Foreign visitor numbers at both Pudong and Hongqiao airports are also expected to rise significantly compared with the same period last year.

"We've introduced a new system allowing international passengers to fill out their arrival cards on the plane and submit their entry details online. We also distribute arrival cards to airlines in advance and have set up self-service printing machines in waiting areas to save time and improve overall border-crossing efficiency," said Miao Ye, a police officer with the Shanghai Border Inspection Station.

Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, has also attracted a significant influx of international tourists during the holiday. According to the Guangzhou Border Inspection Station, the combination of visa-exemption policies and the third phase of the 137th China Import and Export Fair, or Canton Fair, has contributed greatly to the growth in inbound tourism.

Official data show that 32,000 inbound trips were recorded in the first three days of the holiday, a 43 percent rise from last year. The majority of visitors were from Malaysia, Thailand, India, and South Korea, with more than 50 percent traveling for business and tourism purposes.