China, the world’s second-largest economy, is trying to rebound from three years of pandemic isolation. On Tuesday, the country unveiled an expanded visa-free transit policy to lure international visitors and boost economic growth. Under the new policy, eligible foreign travelers, including Americans, can now stay in designated regions of China for up to 10 days.
Previously, the visitors were allowed to stay in China for only 72 to 144 hours based on the destination. The new policy that has been implemented is immediately applicable to the passport holders of 54 countries which include the United States, Canada, and some European and Asian countries. For entry, one needs to produce confirmed tickets for departure from China within 10 days. Entry is allowed at 60 places in 24 provinces. Major hubs include Beijing and Shanghai.
The new policy also enables transit visitors to move across multiple regions during their stay, though certain restrictions remain in place.
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In the past couple of months, China has made many moves to reduce visa requirements and attract international tourists. For example, China now grants visa-free stays for up to 30 days for passport holders of 38 countries, including France, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, and Switzerland. Notably absent, however, is the United States from this list of more extended exclusions.
The US State Department has lowered its travel advisory for China to Level 2 from Level 3 recently, citing better conditions. This move puts China at the same level as other countries such as France and Germany. This is coming after the release of three detained Americans in China for some years: Kai Li, Mark Swidan, and David Lin. The previous Level 3 advisory mentioned the risk of wrongful detentions, but now it expresses its concerns over the arbitrary enforcement of local laws, including in relation to exit bans.
Despite the ongoing challenges, China has made efforts to improve the travel experience for international visitors. This includes streamlining operations, upgrading infrastructure, and addressing issues raised by foreign travelers. The combination of visa reforms and improved travel conditions aims to boost tourism, business, and cultural exchanges between China and other nations.
