China’s Nationwide Immigration Administration (NIA) stated on Monday that the nation’s 144-hour visa-free transit coverage has been expanded to 3 extra entry ports.
In keeping with NIA, the event brings the variety of ports coated by the coverage to 37.
The Administration stated in an announcement that the three new ports embody Zhengzhou Xinzheng Worldwide Airport in Central China’s Henan Province, Lijiang Sanyi Worldwide Airport in Southwest China’s Yunnan Province, and the Mohan Railway Port in Yunnan.
“Ranging from Monday, eligible overseas nationals can enter China by Zhengzhou aviation port visa-free, with their keep restricted inside Henan Province.
“Moreover, individuals getting into Yunnan visa-free are allowed to remain in additional areas of the province.
“Beforehand, they may solely keep within the provincial capital Kunming whereas now, they will go to 9 metropolis or prefecture-level areas together with Kunming, Lijiang, Dali and Xishuangbanna.
“The 2 provinces each boast wealthy vacationer sources.
“Henan, the place many historical dynasties had established their capitals is residence to websites of nice historic curiosity together with the Shaolin Temple and the Longmen Grottoes.
“Yunnan boasts a number of UNESCO World Heritage websites, such because the Previous City of Lijiang and the Hani rice terraces. Additionally it is residence to greater than 20 ethnic teams,’’ the NIA stated.
In keeping with the NIA, at current, overseas nationals from 54 international locations such because the U.S., Canada, and Britain are eligible for the 144-hour visa-free coverage for the aim of short-term actions akin to journey and enterprise visits.
It stated the growth of the visa-free coverage was anticipated to supply extra decisions for overseas nationals travelling and doing enterprise in China.
The NIA stated the 72/144-hour visa-free transit coverage had performed an necessary position within the nation’s high-level opening-up, facilitating the trade of individuals between China and different international locations and selling exchanges and cooperation.
It assured that it could proceed to enhance and optimise the coverage and welcome overseas guests with a extra open thoughts.
The NIA stated earlier this month that China had recorded 14.64 million inbound journeys made by foreigners within the first half of 2024, up by152.7 per cent year-on-year.
In keeping with the NIA, amongst them, 8.54 million entered China visa-free, accounting for 52 per cent of the inbound journeys and representing a year-on-year surge of 190.one per cent.
“Along with the expanded visa-free insurance policies, China has additionally inagurated a collection of different measures to facilitate the entry of overseas nationals and their keep in China.
“This consists of relaxed visa utility necessities and simplified procedures, exemption of border checks for sure transit passengers and extra handy cell cost providers for foreigners,’’ the assertion stated.
The assertion stated that the NIA expects the variety of foreigners visiting China to proceed to rise within the second half of the 12 months.
It additionally stated that as measures being put in place to make visits to China more and more simpler, the nation had change into a well-liked vacation spot for abroad vacationers, with extra individuals posting their journey experiences in China on social media.
“China Journey” has change into a high trending search time period on a number of world social media platforms.
“China will proceed to embrace the world with open arms, inject new dynamism into the world by its improvement, and create extra power and enthusiasm for people-to-people exchanges,” International Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated.
