Visa exemption measures are attracting more and more foreign tourists to China.
Shanghai Pudong International Airport welcomes a growing flow of international visitors thanks to China’s visa-free measures, April 17, 2024.
In the first half of this year, 14.635 million foreigners entered China, a year-on-year increase of 152.7%. Among them, 8.542 million were visa-free (+190.1%). More and more foreign tourists are choosing China as an increasingly popular destination.
China is popular with foreign tourists, of course, because of its unique charm, the inclusive and open nature of Chinese society and the warm welcome of the people. It is also worth commending the fruitful result of the country’s high-level opening to the outside world. As the circle of visa-free friends expands and measures to facilitate people-to-people exchanges advance, foreign tourists can now come whenever they want.
144 hours to discover China without a visa
Visa issues have always been a major difficulty for foreign tourists traveling to China. China has already implemented optimization measures, including simplifying application forms and lowering visa fees, simplifying approval procedures for studying in China, exempting visa applicants from making appointments and taking fingerprints in some cases, and exempting visas for nationals of some countries on a trial basis. This has made it easier to work, study and live in China, which has won praise from the international community.
Since January 2013, China has implemented the 72/144-hour transit visa exemption. So far, it applies to 54 countries, including France, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Spain and Japan. In China, Changsha, Harbin and Guilin offer the 72-hour transit visa exemption, and 20 cities, including Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Nanjing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chongqing, Chengdu, Xi’an and Kunming, offer the 144-hour transit visa exemption.
Data from travel booking platform Ctrip shows that in the second quarter of this year, compared with the first quarter, tourist bookings from the 54 countries benefiting from these measures increased by 28%. The largest numbers came from South Korea, Singapore, Japan, Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Russia, Germany, Spain and France. Greece, Brazil, Hungary, Russia and Canada recorded higher growth rates than in the first quarter.
Mr. Andersen, a Danish student, loves to travel. After learning that he could transit for 144 hours without a visa in China, he immediately booked a flight to Chengdu for his summer vacation. A panda enthusiast, he was amazed by the dazzling array of panda-themed merchandise and decorations in Chengdu. He finds the 144-hour transit visa exemption very convenient and the procedures very fast. He explains that he plans to visit other cities and learn more about China, its culture, history and traditions.
Payments are also made easier, with cards for large amounts, QR codes for small amounts, and cash as a last resort, providing a more pleasant experience for foreign consumers. As of May, the number and amount of foreign card transactions had doubled compared to February. More than 2 million foreign visitors had used mobile payments, and the number and amount of these transactions had almost doubled compared to February.
Cheng Chaogong, chief researcher at the Tongcheng Tourism Research Institute, said that visa exemption for more nationalities and simplification of border crossing procedures play an important role in welcoming foreign tourists. They project to the world an image of a great country that is resolutely open to the outside world and has a positive attitude toward global travelers, while boosting tourism consumption among some foreign visitors.
Foreign tourists visit the Palace Museum in Beijing, July 9, 2024.
The surge of travel in China
The measures have sparked a craze on global social media platforms. Foreign tourists are roaming the streets and alleys of Chinese cities, wearing hanfu (traditional dress), climbing the Great Wall, visiting pandas and eating hot pot. They are vlogging with videos that last from a few seconds to an hour to immortalize the joy of traveling in China.
Recently, American vlogger Bao Bao Xiong, who has been living in Shanghai for 7 years, posted a series of videos about his travels that went viral in China. His exuberant and captivating style attracts netizens, who also want to emulate him. For him, the city brings his dose of stimulation and excitement, with exciting and unforgettable moments. “I love Shanghai. I have lived here for seven years. Shanghai is full of vitality and charm, which is exactly what the city represents to me.”
Mobile payments are very popular among foreign tourists. One of them recounts his experience, explaining that after making purchases, the merchant did not even bother to confirm the payment. “I feel the trust between people in China,” he said.
These measures, of which the 72/144-hour transit visa exemption is the prototype, continue to expand. Since July 1, China has officially implemented a unilateral visa exemption for New Zealand, Australia and Poland. Many provinces and cities are also stepping up efforts to improve the arrangements. For example, Zhengzhou (capital of Henan province) has announced that the 144-hour transit visa exemption will be implemented. The same applies to the Changjiang River Delta region, Sichuan province and Chongqing municipality.
Lin Jian, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, spoke about the popularity of China’s travel at a regular press conference. He said that China is very popular with foreign tourists and he has seen many videos they have shot. These immersive and spontaneous shootings show the vitality of China’s development. “In their videos, the lights of the Liangma River in Beijing at night, the typical street food in Shanghai, the drone delivery service in Shenzhen, as well as the high-tech landscape of Optics Valley and driverless taxis in Wuhan shine.” He said that Chinese authorities expect the popularity of China’s travel to increase in the second half of this year. “We will continue to open up to the world, inject new impetus into the world through our own development, and make foreign exchanges more dynamic and lively.”
*ZHAO XIAOWEN is a journalist at China.org.cn.
NB: The implementation of transit visa exemption measures aims to ensure China’s high-level opening to the world, facilitate people-to-people exchanges, and promote overseas exchanges and cooperation. Starting from November 17, 2023, China has implemented a 72/144-hour transit visa exemption for Norwegian nationals. This measure has now been extended to 54 countries. For more details, please scan the QR code on WeChat:
