From January to August 2025, Malaysia recorded 3.3 million visitor arrivals from China, a 27.5% increase compared with the same period in 2024. From January to August, Malaysia recorded 28.2 million foreign visitors, a 14.5 per cent year-on-year increase.
In 2024, Malaysia welcomed over 3.7 million visitors from China, marking an impressive year-on-year growth of 130.9%. The continuation of the visa-free policy for Chinese nationals until December 2026, along with enhanced air connectivity, is anticipated to expedite this growth, thereby reinforcing cultural connections and enhancing mutual economic benefits.
Tourism Malaysia emphasised that new air connectivities align with Visit Malaysia 2026, that was officially launched on 3 January, ushering in 21 new international air routes. Through the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign, Malaysia aims to attract 43 million international visitors in 2026.
Malaysia Airlines currently serves major Chinese cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Hong Kong, and Taipei, and is actively exploring opportunities to enhance flight frequencies and introduce additional routes to further support growing bilateral exchanges in trade, tourism, and cultural interaction. The airline is ramping up strategic initiatives to enhance passenger and cargo connectivity between Malaysia and China, signalling renewed commitment to bolstering bilateral trade and tourism flows.
Meanwhile, Chinese airlines are ramping up flights to Malaysia. Penang is connected by direct flights to eight Chinese cities: Chengdu, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Chongqing, and Xi’an as well as Taipei.
Some of the flights launched include:
- Sichuan Airlines has launched its inaugural direct flight between Chongqing and Kuala Lumpur on 18 December, marking its second city connection to Malaysia following the existing Chengdu route. On 30 April 2025, Sichuan Airlines commenced direct flights between Chengdu in western China and Penang, marking the airline’s first entry into northern Malaysia.
- Xiamen Airlines relaunched its direct Hangzhou–Kuala Lumpur route on 13 December, boosting air links between Malaysia and China, marking its return after a suspension since 2018. Xiamen Airlines also launched direct flights connecting Quanzhou and Kuala Lumpur on 27 October.
- In July, Juneyao Airlines launched direct flights from Shanghai Pudong to Kuala Lumpur. Operating four times a week, the route is expected to meet rising travel demand between Shanghai and Kuala Lumpur.
- In February, China Southern Airlines inaugurated its first regular international flight from Urumqi, capital of China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, to Kuala Lumpur, with a convenient stop in Guangzhou. This service complements the Guangzhou-Kuala Lumpur route.
- In February, China Eastern Airlines connected Xi’an, the capital of Shaanxi Province in central China, to Kuala Lumpur with daily flights. The Xi’an-Kuala Lumpur route is also served by Chinese budget airline, Loong Air, which launched flights between Penang and Xi’an on 30 December 2024. In May, China Eastern Airlines introduced the Lanzhou-Kunming-Kuala Lumpur route with three times weekly flights, marking the first direct air link between Lanzhou and Malaysia.
- Hainan Airlines also commenced four times weekly direct services from Haikou on Hainan Island to Kuala Lumpur.
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