On July 15th, the National Immigration Administration issued an announcement expanding the scope of the 144-hour visa-free transit policy in Yunnan Province from Kunming City to include nine administrative regions: Kunming, Lijiang, Yuxi, Pu’er, Chuxiong, Dali, Xishuangbanna, Honghe, and Wenshan.
The full text of the announcement is as follows:
“Announcement No. 7, 2024
With the approval of the State Council, the National Immigration Administration has decided to further expand the implementation of the 144-hour visa-free transit policy. The announcement is as follows:
Effective from the date of this announcement, the 144-hour visa-free transit policy will be implemented at the Zhengzhou Airport Port in Henan Province, with the stay area covering the entire administrative region of Henan Province. Additionally, the scope of the 144-hour visa-free transit policy in Yunnan Province will be extended from Kunming City to encompass the administrative regions of nine cities (prefectures), namely Kunming, Lijiang, Yuxi, Pu’er, Chuxiong, Dali, Xishuangbanna, Honghe, and Wenshan. Three new ports, Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport, Lijiang Sanyi International Airport, and Mohan Railway Port, are added as eligible ports for the 144-hour visa-free transit policy.
Citizens of 54 countries, including Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Belarus, Norway, the United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, holding valid international travel documents and confirmed onward tickets with specified dates and seats within 144 hours, are allowed to transit via Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport to a third country (region) without a visa and stay within the administrative region of Henan Province for no more than 144 hours. Similarly, when transiting through Yunnan Province to a third country (region), they can enter and exit via any of Kunming Changshui International Airport, Lijiang Sanyi International Airport, or Mohan Railway Port, and stay within the nine cities (prefectures) of Kunming, Lijiang, Yuxi, Pu’er, Chuxiong, Dali, Xishuangbanna, Honghe, and Wenshan for no more than 144 hours (those who are eligible for visa exemption agreements signed between China and their respective countries or China’s unilateral visa exemption policies shall follow the corresponding regulations). During their stay, they may engage in short-term activities such as tourism, business, visits, and family visits. However, for activities such as work, study, and press interviews, prior approval and a valid visa are still required.
This announcement is hereby made.
National Immigration Administration
July 15, 2024”
The 144-hour visa-free transit policy has sparked a wave of “China Travel” enthusiasm.
The phenomenon of foreigners engaging in “special forces-style tourism” has also become a hot topic among netizens.
With the expansion of the scope of the 144-hour visa-free transit policy, Yunnan, as a tourist destination, is bound to become the top choice for foreign friends when it comes to “Travel”.