Australian visitor numbers to China hit 90,930 in April, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, a 34% jump on a year earlier.
That figure sits 43% higher than in 2019, showing demand is exceeding pre-pandemic levels.
Over the past 12 months, almost 19% more Australians have completed return trips to China compared with the previous year.
The surge shows a clear pivot in where Australians are choosing to spend their travel budgets.
A mix of policy change and practical convenience is removing friction from the booking decision.
China granted Australian tourists visa-free entry in November 2024, eliminating one of the biggest hassles for short trips.
Airlines have also restored meaningful capacity on Australia-China routes, so there are more seats to sell at competitive prices.
Travellers keen on single-hop journeys now find China fits neatly into that requirement, further strengthening its appeal.
Online search data shows how strong the interest is.
Travel site Skyscanner reports a 44% rise in searches for flights to China over the past six months.
Searches for Japan flights grew 41% over the year, so China is edging ahead even against another favourite destination.
Industry watchers point to this momentum and say there is little evidence of demand slowing.
