China’s National Immigration Administration (NIA) announced on Monday the expansion of its 144-hour visa-free transit policy to three additional entry ports, bringing the total to 37.
The new ports include Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport in Henan Province, Lijiang Sanyi International Airport, and the Mohan railway port in Yunnan Province. Eligible foreign nationals can now enter China visa-free through these ports, with specific regional travel restrictions.
Foreign travelers entering Zhengzhou can stay within Henan Province, while those entering Yunnan can now visit nine city-level areas, including Kunming, Lijiang, Dali, and Xishuangbanna, beyond the provincial capital. Henan and Yunnan boast significant historical and cultural attractions, such as the Shaolin Temple and UNESCO World Heritage sites like the Old Town of Lijiang.
The NIA noted that foreign nationals from 54 countries, including the U.S., Canada, and Britain, are eligible for the 144-hour visa-free policy for short-term activities such as travel and business. This policy aims to enhance China’s openness and facilitate international exchanges and cooperation.
In the first half of 2024, China recorded 14.64 million inbound trips by foreigners, with 8.54 million entering visa-free. The NIA expects these numbers to continue rising, driven by additional measures to ease foreign nationals’ entry and stay, such as relaxed visa application requirements and simplified procedures.
China’s efforts to welcome more foreign visitors have made it a trending travel destination on global social media platforms. The NIA assured that it would continue to improve and optimize its visa policies, fostering greater people-to-people exchanges.
