More Filipinos head to China as travel builds bridges across the sea
Filipino arrivals rise 48.9% in the first half of 2026, while October visa applications jump 66%, according to the Chinese Embassy.
For more Filipinos, China is becoming a place to experience firsthand—a destination for discovering unfamiliar cities, tasting regional cuisines, and meeting the people behind a frequently discussed neighbor. The number of Filipinos who traveled to China increased year-on-year by 48.9% from January to June 2026, and in October alone, visa applications rose 66% compared with the same month last year, the Chinese Embassy in Manila said in a public advisory, as it encouraged Filipino travelers to plan ahead.