China now warmly welcomes international travelers and has implemented a 30-day visa-free policy for citizens of several countries, valid until the end of 2025. Check the visa-free list to see if your country qualifies. If not, we offer a hassle-free Port Visa Service for just $100 per person upon confirmation of your tour booking with us—no embassy visits or visa interviews required!
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8 Ways to Enter China: All Open Now!
Since China has fully permitted visa applications, there are now several ways to enter the country.
1. Visa
If you still hold a valid Chinese visa (any type including a tourist visa, 10-year visa, a port visa, etc.), you can use it to enter China.
If you don't have a Chinese visa or your visa has expired, you can apply for a new one. All visas can now be applied for, including tourist visas, business visas, work visas, and so on. (International visitors can apply for a tourist visa to the Chinese Mainland in Hong Kong.)
For the documents required for a visa application, you can refer to the information given by a Chinese embassy/consulate. Please submit your application at least two months in advance.
To apply for a tourist visa (L visa), you will be asked to provide an invitation letter issued by a Chinese travel agency or individual or round-trip air tickets and hotel bookings.
When booking a private tour with us, we can provide you with an invitation letter, which is one more thing we do to make your travel more convenient, giving you more flexibility with your air tickets and hotel bookings.
Now it is very easy to apply for a visa. You can easily apply by yourself without an intermediary. The following is how one of our clients successfully applied for a Chinese tourist visa:
- First, fill out the form at the China Online Visa Application website;
- Second, make an appointment on this website to submit your visa materials on Appointment for Visa Application Submission website;
- Third, take the required documents to the embassy to submit;
- Finally, you will get a return receipt if your documents are qualified.
Usually, you will get your visa after 7 working days. The application fee is about USD185 for US citizens.
Q: What if my passport expires but my visa doesn't?
A: You can travel to China on the expired passport containing valid Chinese visa in combination with the new passport, provided that the identity information (name, date of birth, gender, nationality) on both passport identical.
If there is a change to any of the above details, you must apply for a new visa.
2. 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy
If you do not apply for a Chinese visa, you may still have the opportunity to visit these areas of China visa free: the Shanghai area (including Suzhou, Hangzhou, etc.), the Beijing area (with Tianjin and Hebei), the Guangzhou area (Shenzhen, Zhuhai, etc.), and more. Take advantage of the 6-day visa-free entitlements.
Find out if you could use the 144-hour visa-free transit policy with our information on China's 144-hour Visa-Free Policy (Eligible Entry/Exit Ports, Applicable Countries, Documents to be Prepared...)
You can also obtain entry and exit control policies through the 24-hour hotline of the National Immigration Administration:
- Beijing: 0086 (+86)-10-12367
- Shanghai: 0086 (+86)-21-12367
- Guangzhou: 0086 (+86)-20-12367
Quick Test: Will My Route Qualify for China 72/144-Hour Visa-Free Transit?
3. Port Visas (Landing Visas)
If you don't have time to get a visa, or if you find it cumbersome to apply for a tourist visa, you could consider traveling to China through a port visa.
Port visas can be applied for a group at least including 2 people. You need to enter the country within 15 days after you get your entry permit. The port visa allows a stay period of 1 to 2 months.
Applicable ports include Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Guilin, Xi'an, Chengdu, etc.
Book your China trip with us and we can help you apply for a port visa.
4. Visa Exemption for ASEAN Tour Groups to Guilin
In addition, tour groups from ASEAN member countries, including Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Singapore, Myanmar, Brunei, and the Philippines, can visit Guilin for 144 hours without visas as long as they meet the visa-free transit policy requirements.
5. Shanghai Visa-Free Policy for Cruise Groups
Shanghai has a 15-day visa-free policy for foreign tourist groups entering China via a cruise. You must arrive and depart on the same cruise and be received by a Chinese travel agent at the Shanghai Cruise Terminal (or Wusong Passenger Center).
6. Hainan Visa-Free Access
No visa is required for staying on Hainan Island for up to 30 days for ordinary passport holders from 59 countries. Groups and individual tourists must book a tour through an accredited travel agency.
Find out whether you qualify for the policy here.
7. Visa Exemption for the Pearl River Delta Area
International travelers from Hong Kong or Macau are able to visit the Pearl River Delta area (Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, etc.) visa-free as long as they go with a registered tour provider, such as us.
8. APEC Cards
If you hold a valid APEC business travel card, you can simply enter China with the card without applying for a visa.
Travelers who hold a valid APEC business travel card can stay in China for up to 60 days.
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Do I Still Need a PCR Test or Antigen Self-Test to Enter China
No. Starting from August 30, all travelers entering China will no longer need to undergo any COVID-19 testing. You do not need to submit any test results for COVID-19 before departure.
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Hong Kong / Macau Travel Restriction
Hong Kong Entry Requirements
Travelers from any region bound for Hong Kong will no longer need to take pre-flight COVID-19 tests (no PCR test, no RAT test) from April 1.
There is also no need for any tests when traveling from Hong Kong to the Chinese Mainland. Hong Kong could be a good gateway for your China trip. See suggestions on China Itineraries from Hong Kong (from 1 Week to 3 Weeks).
Direct high-speed trains from Guangzhou and Shenzhen to Hong Kong are available now. In preparation for the Canton Fair, it is expected that direct high-speed ferries will be launched from Guangzhou Pazhou Port to Hong Kong's airport in mid-April.
Macau Entry Requirement
From August 30, travelers from any region bound for Macau will no longer need to take pre-flight COVID-19 tests (no PCR test, no RAT test).
There is also no need for any tests when traveling from Macau to the Chinese Mainland.
International Flights to China
Inbound and outbound international flights in the week beginning March 6th rose by more than 350% compared with a year earlier, to nearly 2,500 flights, according to Chinese flight tracking data from APP Flight Master.
At present, there are one or two direct flights a week from New York to Shanghai, Los Angeles to Beijing, Seattle to Shanghai, London to Guangzhou, etc.
There are also many flight options with stopovers that are more frequent and affordable. Testing at transit airports is now not required!
What to Expect When Traveling in China
The Coronavirus outbreak in China has subsided. China looks like it did in 2019 again. No special measures (like PCR tests or health codes) are required when traveling around China. All attractions are open as normal.
Wearing a mask is not mandatory when traveling. In hotels, masks are off for the most part. But in some crowded places, such as airports or subway stations, many people still wear masks.
Best Times to Travel to China
Weather-wise, the best times to visit China are spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October), when most of the popular places have their most tourism-friendly weather, except for the "golden weeks" — the first week of May and of October — when most attractions are flooded with Chinese tourists.
If you are looking for smaller crowds, favorable prices, and still good weather, you should consider March and April or September.
Tourism in cultural and historical destinations like Beijing, Shanghai, and Xi'an is hardly affected by weather conditions. They are suitable to be visited all year round.
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Tour China with Us
We've been building our team for over 20 years. Even over the past three years we have continued, serving over 10,000 expats with China tours and getting a lot of praise (see TripAdvisor).
We are based in China and can show you the characteristics and charm of China from a unique perspective. Just contact us to create your China trip.
Our consultants will listen to and answer your inquiries carefully and prepare the best plan for you.
- 8-Day Beijing–Xi'an–Shanghai Highlights Tour — the classic Golden Triangle
- 11-Day Beijing–Xi'an–Guilin–Shanghai — our top itinerary for families
- 2-Week Beijing – Xi'an – Chengdu – Yangtze Cruise – Shanghai Tour — the best choice for panda fans