Latest Travel Policies
Visa – free Policy for Tour Groups from ASEAN Countries in Xishuangbanna
Since February 10, 2025, tour groups (consisting of 2 or more people) from 10 ASEAN countries, namely Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia, holding ordinary passports and organized and received by domestic travel agencies in China, entering and leaving in groups, can enter and exit without a visa through Xishuangbanna Gasa International Airport Port, Mohan Railway Port, and Mohan Highway Port. The scope of activities is within the administrative region of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, and the stay period shall not exceed 6 days.
Unilateral Visa – free Policies for Some Countries
- From July 1, 2024, to December 31, 2025, people holding ordinary passports from New Zealand, Australia, and Poland can enter China visa – free for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, and transit for no more than 15 days.
- From November 30, 2024, to December 31, 2025, a pilot visa – free policy is implemented for people holding ordinary passports from 9 countries, including Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia, and Japan. People holding ordinary passports from 38 visa – free countries, including the above 9 countries, can enter China visa – free for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, exchange visits, and transit for no more than 30 days.
Optimization of Transit Visa – free Policy
Since December 17, 2024, the stay period of foreigners with transit visa – free in China has been extended from the original 72 hours and 144 hours to 240 hours (10 days). Additionally, 21 ports have been added, bringing the total number of ports for transit visa – free entry and exit to 60. Foreigners with transit visa – free can travel across provinces within the permitted activity areas of 24 provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government).
Visa – free Policy for Foreign Tour Groups Entering by Cruise Ship
In May 2024, China fully implemented the visa – free policy for foreign tour groups entering by cruise ship in coastal provinces. Foreign tour groups traveling by cruise ship and organized and received by domestic travel agencies can enter the country without a visa as a group through the cruise ports of 13 cities.
Visa – free Policy for People from 59 Countries in Hainan
In 2024, the reasons for people from 59 countries to enter Hainan visa – free were further expanded, providing more convenience for foreign tourists traveling to Hainan.
Travel Promotion Activities
Upgrade of Shanghai’s Free Half – day Tour for Inbound Travelers
Combined with festivals such as the Spring Festival, some travel companies have upgraded the free half – day tour for inbound travelers in Shanghai, including special items such as the folk lantern festival in Yu Garden, allowing foreign tourists to experience the more down – to – earth Chinese culture.
Facilitation of Payment and Supporting Services
- Shanghai promotes the construction of a convenient payment environment in key business districts, commercial streets, supermarkets, and convenience stores, and continuously optimizes services in aspects such as tourist transportation and luggage storage. Beijing takes the lead in enabling direct use of overseas bank cards to take the subway. Chongqing ensures full coverage of foreign currency exchange services in key foreign – related hotels.
- Shanghai makes 57,000 merchants and over 85,000 terminals support the acceptance of overseas bank cards, and continuously optimizes services in aspects such as tourist transportation and luggage storage. Combined with festivals such as the Spring Festival, some travel companies have upgraded the free half – day tour for inbound travelers in Shanghai, including special items such as the folk lantern festival in Yu Garden.
Facilitation of Inbound Travel Services in Other Cities
- Beijing takes the lead in enabling direct use of overseas bank cards to take the subway. Chongqing ensures full coverage of foreign currency exchange services in key foreign – related hotels. Guangzhou holds an inbound consumption season, and Tianjin promotes the development of the “cruise +” format, further innovating inbound consumption scenarios.
FAQs
Who is the visa – free policy for tour groups from ASEAN countries applicable to?
The visa – free policy for tour groups from ASEAN countries is applicable to the following people:
- Identity requirement: They must be citizens of the 10 ASEAN countries, namely Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia.
- Travel form requirement: They must travel in tour groups with 2 or more people.
- Passport requirement: They must hold ordinary passports.
- Organization and reception requirement: They must be organized and received by domestic travel agencies in China and enter and leave in groups.
Which other cities in China provide convenient inbound tourism services for foreign tourists?
- Chengdu:
- Convenient transportation: With two airports connecting to the five continents, the Overseas Visitor Service Center at Chengdu Tianfu International Airport sells “Tianfutong Foreigner Card”, which can be used to take buses and subways. There are bilingual self – service ticket vending machines at subway stations.
- Language services: There are AI intelligent translation screens providing translation services in 10 languages. The “Foreign Passenger Service Station” at Chengdu East Railway Station has service staff who can fluently switch among English, French, Italian, and Chinese to handle comprehensive services such as ticket – buying for foreign tourists. There are bilingual menus in scenic spots, business districts, and restaurants.
- Convenient payment: A payment system of “large – amount card – swiping, small – amount QR – code scanning, and cash backup” has been established. The Overseas Visitor Payment Service Center can provide services such as bank card application, phone card activation, and currency exchange. 21 overseas e – wallets can be directly used for payment in Chengdu.
- Diverse consumption: Scenic spots such as Chengdu Museum support online ticket – buying with passports. There are inbound travel brochures in Chinese, English, Japanese, and Korean. There are 429 tax – free shops for departure in the city.
- Sanya:
- Favorable policies: Hainan implements the visa – free policy for people from 59 countries to enter Hainan and the 144 – hour visa – free policy for foreign tour groups from Hong Kong and Macao to enter Hainan.
- Thoughtful services: Hotels are equipped with multi – language menus in Russian, English, etc. Tourist attractions have updated the multi – language sign system. The 12345 hotline of the government service center provides 24 – hour foreign language services in English, Korean, Russian, and Japanese.
- Convenient payment: The “Hainan Safe Pay” App is widely promoted. Tourists can also consult and file complaints through the “Visit Sanya” online international service account.
- Rich flight routes: A total of 22 overseas flight routes have been resumed and opened, covering 18 overseas destinations.
- Kunming: As a city implementing the 144 – hour transit visa – free policy, foreign tourists can move around within the administrative regions of 9 cities (prefectures), including Kunming, Lijiang, Yuxi, Pu’er, Chuxiong, Dali, Xishuangbanna, Honghe, and Wenshan.
- Huangshan: Huangshan Scenic Area provides overseas tourists with a convenient digital service experience by upgrading digital capabilities in aspects such as payment, red – envelope codes, and tour guide translation. Alipay QR – code payment services cover scenarios such as online car – hailing, buses, bicycles, catering, supermarkets, accommodation, and scenic spots in the whole city of Huangshan. Inbound tourists can have the same convenient consumption experience as domestic residents.
