Today, China’s National Immigration Administration (NIA) revealed the extension of the country’s 144-hour visa-free transit policy to three additional entry ports, bringing the total number of ports included in the policy to 37.
The administration announced the addition of three new ports: Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport in Henan Province, Lijiang Sanyi International Airport in Yunnan Province, and the Mohan railway port in Yunnan.
Effective today, foreign nationals meeting the criteria can now enter China via Zhengzhou airport without a visa, but are restricted to staying within Henan Province. Additionally, those entering Yunnan without a visa are now permitted to explore more regions within the province. Previously, they were only allowed to stay in Kunming; however, they can now visit nine city or prefecture-level areas such as Kunming, Lijiang, Dali, and Xishuangbanna, as stated by the NIA.
According to NIA statement, the extension of the visa exemption policy aims to offer additional options for international travelers and business people visiting China.
National Immigration Administration said that the 72/144-hour visa-free transit policy has been instrumental in the country’s extensive opening-up efforts, enhancing the flow of individuals between China and other nations, as well as fostering collaborations and partnerships. The commitment has been made to further enhance and refine the policy, while embracing foreign guests with a more inclusive approach.
Currently, citizens of 54 nations including the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom are qualified for the 144-hour visa exemption program for short-term activities like tourism and business trips.
Earlier, NIA reported that China saw a significant increase in inbound trips by foreigners in the first half of this year, with a total of 14.64 million recorded, marking a 152.7 percent year-on-year rise. Out of these trips, 8.54 million were made visa-free, making up 52 percent of the total inbound trips and showing a 190.1 percent surge compared to the previous year.
Also, aside from the extended visa-free policies, China has implemented various initiatives to streamline the process for foreign nationals entering and staying in the country. These include easing visa application criteria, simplifying procedures, exempting border checks for specific transit passengers, and offering more convenient mobile payment options for foreigners.
The NIA anticipates a further increase in the number of foreign visitors to China during the latter part of this year.
With the implementation of new measures to facilitate visits to China, the country has seen a rise in popularity among international tourists. The increasing number of individuals sharing their travel adventures in China on various social media platforms has led to “China Travel” becoming a highly searched term across multiple global social media channels.
