China’s Foreign Ministry has announced plans to extend visa-free visits for Americans and other foreign tourists to 10 days, according to Global Times. The effective-immediate initiative comes in an effort to attract more tourism to the country.
Prior to the announcement, transit travelers could stay in China for 72 to 144 hours. Now they may stay up to 240 hours, or 10 days.
Visitors from over 54 countries are eligible under the new policy, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Russia and several European countries.
The United States, however, is excluded from the list of countries where passport holders do not need a visa to stay in China for up to 30 days, NBC reported, whether it’s for business, tourism, family visits, exchange and transit purposes.
China has also expanded the number of visa-free ports across 24 provinces, including Beijing and Shanghai, for visitors to enter and exit the country, as well as more areas where transit travelers may stay.
This initiative is part of a string of new visa policies, as China has been adjusting its requirements since reopening borders last year after isolating due to COVID-19.
Foreign visitors made 8.2 million trips to China during this year’s third quarter — a 48.8% increase from the third quarter a year prior, according to Reuters.
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