Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong have secured places among the world's top 10 tourism cities in the World Tourism Cities Development Report (2025–2026), unveiled Wednesday at the 2026 World Tourism Cooperation and Development Conference in Beijing. Convened during the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) with more than 400 delegates from over 50 countries and regions, the index evaluated 100 global metropolitan destinations across six core metrics: city visibility, industry prosperity, urban intelligence, tourism safety, economic contribution, and visitor satisfaction. Leading the rankings alongside New York, Tokyo, Paris, and London, the three Chinese metropolises placed fifth, sixth, and seventh worldwide, respectively.
The evaluation reflects an ongoing structural shift in the global travel landscape, transitioning away from traditional Western-dominated corridors toward dynamic, diversified hubs across multiple tiers. The Asia-Pacific region secured nine of the top 20 rankings, driven by decisive upgrades in visa-free entry policies, expanded aviation route networks, smart city mobile ecosystems, and innovative cultural tourism formats. China emerged with the largest national representation in the index, bolstered further by regional powerhouses Hangzhou and Chengdu earning spots within the global top 20.
For international travelers and travel trade partners curating China travel itineraries, these rankings validate China’s premier metropolises as safe, highly connected, and digitally seamless destinations. From the imperial heritage of Beijing and the cosmopolitan street culture of Shanghai to the culinary vibrancy of Hong Kong, each gateway city offers overseas tourists distinctive urban experiences backed by modern infrastructure. As visa-free entry programs and cross-border transit options continue to widen, China's leading travel cities are uniquely positioned to capture long-haul leisure and business travel demand worldwide.