China Travel Advisory

China Travel Restrictions & Travel Advisory

Uplifting news for voyagers! China has completely opened its boundaries following a three-year stand by. From Walk 15, anybody with a legitimate Chinese visa (counting visas applied for before Walk 28, 2020) can enter China without expecting to apply for another one. A wide range of visa applications have likewise been continued, and without visa strategies have been restored.

The traveler with ordinary passport from Singapore, Japan, or Brunei will need to apply for a China visa before entry according to the List of Agreements on Mutual Visa Exemption Between the People’s Republic of China and Foreign Countries issued on February 22nd, 2023.

Content Preview

• What Ways to Enter China
• Do I Still Need PCR Test to Enter China
• Hong Kong/Macau Travel Restriction

What Ways to Enter China

Since China has fully liberalized visa applications, there are several ways to enter the country.

1. Visa

In the event that you actually hold a legitimate Chinese visa (any sort including traveler visa, 10-year visa, and so forth), you can utilize it to enter China.

In the event that you don’t have a Chinese visa or your visa has terminated, you can apply another one. Any visa can be applied for, including vacationer visa, business visa, work visa, etc.

2. 144-Hour Visa Free Transit Policy

If you do not apply for a Chinese visa, you still have the opportunity to visit these areas of China including Shanghai area (Suzhou, Hangzhou, etc.), Beijing area (Tianjin, Hebei), or Guangzhou area (Shenzhen, Zhuhai, etc) — take advantage of the 144-hour visa free transit policy.|

You can also obtain entry and exit control policies through the 24-hour hotline 12367 of the National Immigration Administration.

3. Visa Exemption for ASEAN Tour Groups to Guilin

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.

4. 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 Woosung Passenger Center).

5. 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. Group and individual tourists must book their tour through an accredited travel agency. 

6. Visa Exemption to Pearl River Delta

International travelers from Hong Kong or Macau are able to visit the surrounding Pearl River Delta (Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, etc.) visa-free as long as they go with a registered tour group such as ours.

7. APEC Cards

If you hold a valid APEC business travel card, you can enter China with the card directly without applying a new visa.

Travelers who hold a valid APEC business travel card can stay in China for up to 60 days.

Do I Still Need PCR Test to Enter China

It depends.

Travelers from the USA, the UK, Australia, Canada, etc. will need to do a PCR test within 48 hours before departure.

If you are flying to China directly from Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, New Zealand, South Africa, France ,Italy, etc., you can do an antigen self test within 48 hours before departure instead of a PCR test.

Hong Kong/Macau Travel Restriction

Hong Kong Entry Requirement

Travelers from overseas and Taiwan will need a negative PCR test result before departure within 48 hours or a negative RAT test result within 24 hours.

If you are travelling to Hong Kong from Chinese Mainland or Macau, there is no need for any tests. 

There is no need for any tests when traveling from Hong Kong to Chinese Mainland if you haven’t been to overseas or Taiwan within 7 days.

Direct high-speed trains from Guanghzou 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 airport in mid-April.

Macau Entry Requirement

Travelers entering Macau from overseas will need to show a negtive PCR test or rapid antigen detection test result within 48 hours.

Travelers entering Macau from Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, or Taiwan don’t need any test results. Nucleic acid test results are also not required for travel to the mainland from Macau (If you haven’t been outside Macau and Chinese Mailand in 7 days).

Macau resumes international transfer services. Foreign nationals who enter Macau and leave for Chinese Mainland within 7 days after their entry are required to show a negative PCR test within 48 hours before departure.

Submitted By Uzair Ahmed