(Yicai) Sept. 5 -- The number of people from overseas visiting Shenzhen surged almost two-and-a-half fold in the first six months from a year earlier as the Chinese hi-tech hub continues to add international flights and to lure more foreign businesses as part of its aim to transform into a global metropolis.

Just over 2.4 million foreigners entered and exited Shenzhen in the six months ended June 30, according to the city’s border inspection data.

By Aug. 14 this number had climbed to 3 million, a 123 percent jump year on year. Of this, 367,000 visitors came in on the 144-hour visa-free scheme, more than triple that during the whole of 2023.

Shenzhen has made great strides in recent years to become a global airport hub. Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport has flights to 43 international and regional destinations. The airport was handling more than 800 international and regional flights a week in early August, a surge of almost 70 percent year on year.

The airport has added eight international passenger routes to destinations including Mexico City, Cairo and Sapporo so far this year, and has increased the number of flights on seven routes including to Barcelona, Tel Aviv and Kuala Lumpur.

It has also either started or increased the number of flights on almost 20 global cargo routes. As of mid-July, the international and regional cargo volume had surged 21 percent year on year to 470,000 tons.

The municipality also rolled out 20 measures in May to attract overseas investment. Some 3,683 new foreign-backed companies were set up in Shenzhen in the first half, a jump of 10 percent from a year ago, and accounting for 13 percent of the country’s total, according to the Shenzhen Commerce Bureau. More than 310 of the world’s top 500 companies have invested in Shenzhen.

Since the beginning of the year, 18 foreign heads of state have visited Shenzhen, more than the total over the past two years, according to Yicai research. Technology companies, including car giant BYD, are an important reason why many foreign dignitaries visit Shenzhen.

Editor: Kim Taylor