China's 144-hour visa-free transit policy has been extended to Henan and Yunnan provinces

China has announced the 144-hour visa-free transit policy, extending it to parts of Henan province and Yunnan province.

China's National Immigration Administration announced on its website on Monday (July 15) that starting from the date of the announcement, the 144-hour visa-free transit policy will be implemented at Zhengzhou Airport in Henan province, and the stopover area will be the administrative area of Henan province. The 144-hour transit visa-free stay in Yunnan Province will be extended from Kunming to nine cities (prefectures), including Kunming, Lijiang, Yuxi, Puer, Chuxiong, Dali, Xishuangbanna, Honghe and Wenshan.

At the same time, three new ports, including Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport in Henan Province and Lijiang Sanyi International Airport and Mohan Railway port in Yunnan Province, will be applicable to the 144-hour transit visa-free policy.

According to the new regulations, citizens of 54 countries such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan and South Korea, holding valid international travel documents and connecting tickets with fixed dates and seats within 144 hours from the above-mentioned ports to transit to a third country (region), can stay in the prescribed area without a visa for no more than 144 hours, and can engage in short-term activities such as tourism, business, visits and family visits during the stay. However, work, study, news coverage and other matters still require prior approval and visa to enter the country.

So far, China's National Immigration Administration has implemented the 144-hour visa-free transit policy at 37 ports in Beijing, Tianjin and Shanghai.

The main data on immigration management in the first half of 2024, released by China earlier this month, showed that 14.635 million foreigners entered China at ports in the first half, up 152.7 percent year on year. Among them, 8.542 million people entered China through visa-free entry, accounting for 52 percent, an increase of 190.1 percent year-on-year. Officials expect the trend to continue in the second half of this year.

Thanks to the expanded 144-hour visa-free transit policy, more and more foreigners are visiting China and showing what they have seen and heard online, Xinhuanet-based think tank Sicke said last Tuesday. This not only brings a fire to Chinese tourism, but also shows a real and vivid image of China to the outside world and promotes Sino-foreign economic and trade cooperation, which can be said to kill multiple birds with one stone.