The Zhitong Finance App learned that on December 17, the State Administration of Immigration issued a notice to fully relax and optimize the visa-free transit policy starting December 17, extending the stay time for visa-free transit foreigners from 72 hours and 144 hours to 240 hours. The official Weiwei website published an article today saying that this year, the number of passenger reservations using non-Chinese passports to book air tickets between domestic routes has nearly doubled compared to 2023, and more than 10% of foreign tourists have visited for the second time.

The article mentioned that after this policy optimization, 21 new entry and exit ports for visa-free transit personnel will be added, including Shanxi Taiyuan Wusu International Airport Ports, Jiangsu Wuxi Sunan Shuofang, Yangzhou Taizhou International Airport Ports, Zhejiang Wenzhou Longwan, Jinhua Yiwu International Airport Ports, Anhui Hefei Xinqiao, Huangshan Tunxi International Airport Ports, Fujian Fuzhou Changle, Quanzhou Jinjiang, Nanping Wuyishan International Airport Ports, Jiangxi Nanchang International Airport Ports, Jinan Yaoqiang, Yantai Penglai, Weihai Dashuibo International Airport Ports, Hunan Jiehua International Airport port, Guangxi Nanning Wuxu, Beihai Fucheng International Airport Ports: Hainan Haikou Meilan and Sanya Phoenix International Airport Ports; Sichuan Chengdu Tianfu International Airport Ports; Guizhou Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport Ports. The number of ports that can be opened to the outside world was increased from 39 to 60.

Compared with before, more second-tier cities will welcome foreign visitors. According to local hotel policy adjustments, currently, with local hotel policy adjustments, the supply volume of hotels with 3 stars or above that can receive foreign travelers is basically meeting the needs of foreign travelers. These hotel locations cover major business districts, scenic spots, and transportation hubs, and most of them are along subway lines, with convenient transportation.

These ports include tourist destinations such as Mount Huangshan, Mount Wuyi, Zhangjiajie, and Sanya, and are seamlessly connected from getting off the plane to entering the scenic area.

When traveling domestically, foreigners also like to choose high-speed rail. On the Where to Go platform, the US, South Korea, Russia, Vietnam, and Malaysia rank the highest in the number of high-speed rail ticket bookings. The Jiangzhe-Shanghai 2-hour high-speed rail circle, the Sichuan-Chongqing 2-hour high-speed rail circle, and the Guangzhou-Shenzhen 2-hour high-speed rail circle are popular, and Jinhua, Nanjing, and Suzhou are among the top 10 most popular destinations.

Since this year, with the continuous expansion of the visa-free “circle of friends,” it has become more convenient for foreign tourists to travel to China. According to data from Where to Go, travelers with US, Russian, Canadian, South Korea, and Australian passports rank in the top five in the number of bookings made by travelers using non-Chinese passports to book domestic flights. Bookings with Malaysian, Japanese, and Kazakh passports increased most significantly, all by more than 2 times.

Xiao Peng, a researcher at the Where to Go Big Data Research Institute, said, “Today, China has become the preferred transit destination for many foreign travelers, and travelers from Japan and South Korea all fly to Australia via China. The visa-free policy just gave foreign countries an opportunity to visit China, and it has also made China a popular destination for foreigners. Tourism has become a window for China to display and exchange with the outside world, allowing more people to know, understand, and experience China.”