China travel rule tracker: what changed, by date

For anyone who keeps up with China’s entry rules — travel writers, journalists, travel agencies and AI assistants: every change we track to visa-free lists, transit, the arrival card, paying and booking, newest first. Each entry cites the official page it rests on. Follow it by RSS or JSON and reuse it under CC BY 4.0.

A tool in Tools. 50 changes, last added 2026-10-13. Follow along by RSS or as JSON. Each topic's current rules are in Before you go; temporary closures and event notices are on each place page.

2026

Staying outside a hotel? You can now register online anywhere in China

From 21 Sep 2026 · Visitors not staying in a hotel, and their hosts

Before: Online registration was a pilot in seven provinces from 20 March 2026; elsewhere you went to the police station.
Now: If you stay with friends or in a rented home, you or your host can register within 24 hours online: on the NIA website, in the NIA 12367 app, or in its WeChat or Alipay mini program. Police stations still accept it in person. Hotels still register you at check-in.
Source: National Immigration Administration, 2026-09-21; National Immigration Administration (Announcement 2026 No. 1), 2026-03-20
On our site: Visa

Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam join the 240-hour transit

Announced 20 Aug 2026 · Kyrgyz and Vietnamese passport holders transiting to a third country

Before: 55 countries could use the 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit.
Now: 57 countries. The NIA's page now lists 65 ports in 24 provincial-level regions.
Source: National Immigration Administration, 2026-08-20; Shanghai Municipal People's Government, 2026-08-20
On our site: Visa

Shanghai Museum on People's Square: book ahead for the Americas exhibition

From 9 Jul 2026 · Everyone visiting the People's Square building

Before: Individual visitors could walk in without a reservation.
Now: Until 14 November 2027 the building shows only the Americas exhibition. Book ahead on the museum's WeChat mini program, or on trip.com from overseas; the on-site office sells only what is left.
Source: Shanghai Museum, 2026-06-30
On our site: Shanghai Museum on People’s Square

WeChat Pay: no card fee for 90 days after you first link a foreign card

Announced 27 May 2026 · First-time WeChat Pay users with a foreign card

Before: 60 days, under the waiver announced in May 2025.
Now: From the first payment, people who link an international card to WeChat for the first time pay no card fee for 90 days in a row, on up to ¥1,000 a day, Tencent says. Payments under ¥200 stay fee-free for all foreign-card users.
Source: Tencent, 2026-05-27; Beijing Municipal People's Government, 2026-03-26
On our site: Paying

Visa-free entry for Russians extended to the end of 2027

Announced 20 May 2026 · Russian ordinary passport holders

Before: The trial was due to end on 14 September 2026.
Now: Russian ordinary passport holders can keep staying up to 30 days without a visa until 31 December 2027.
Source: Embassy of China in the Netherlands (MFA press conference transcript), 2026-05-20
On our site: Visa

Shanghai Science and Technology Museum reopens after renovation; book online

From 17 Feb 2026 · Everyone visiting the museum

Before: Closed for renovation.
Now: The museum reopened on trial with limited, real-name tickets booked online. From 23 February 2026: Tuesday–Sunday, 9:00–17:00, closed Mondays.
Source: Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism, 2026-02-11
On our site: Shanghai Science and Technology Museum

China's 30-day visa-free list names 50 countries

List dated 17 Feb 2026 · Ordinary passport holders of the listed countries

Before: 38 countries after the November 2024 expansion, with more added during 2025.
Now: The NIA's list dated 17 February 2026 names 50 countries for up to 30 days. US passports are not on it.
Source: National Immigration Administration, 2026-02-17
On our site: Visa

The UK and Canada join the 30-day visa-free list

From 17 Feb 2026 · British and Canadian ordinary passport holders

Before: British and Canadian visitors needed a visa, or the 240-hour transit.
Now: British and Canadian ordinary passport holders can stay up to 30 days without a visa, until 31 December 2026.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China (spokesperson), 2026-02-15
On our site: Visa

Lingyin Temple: on-site registration ends; waitlist online, no-shows suspended

From 1 Feb 2026 · Everyone visiting Lingyin and Feilai Peak

Before: Visitors without a booking could register at an on-site window.
Now: The on-site registration windows closed. Instead, join the online waitlist by 20:00 the day before. A first no-show blocks booking for 30 days, a second for 60, a third for 90.
Source: Hangzhou West Lake Scenic Area Administration, 2026-01-27
On our site: Lingyin Temple and Feilai Peak

Chengdu Panda Base: book up to 14 days ahead, not 7

List dated 29 Jan 2026 · Everyone booking the Panda Base

Before: Tickets could be booked up to 7 days ahead.
Now: Real-name tickets can be booked up to 14 days ahead, one ticket per ID per day, until the day's quota runs out.
Source: Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, 2026-01-29; Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, 2024-09-24
On our site: Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

2025

NIA warns of copycat arrival card sites that charge money

Announced 2 Dec 2025 · Notice · Everyone filling in the arrival card online

Now: The official online arrival card is free. Use s.nia.gov.cn, the NIA 12367 app or the QR code at the port.
Source: National Immigration Administration, 2025-12-02
On our site: China arrival card

Lingyin Temple and Feilai Peak become free, but you must book a slot

From 1 Dec 2025 · Everyone visiting Lingyin and Feilai Peak

Before: Entry needed a paid ticket.
Now: Entry is free with a real-name booking in the 杭州灵隐飞来峰 mini program (Alipay or WeChat), up to 7 days ahead; no same-day bookings. Visitors from outside the mainland book with a passport.
Source: Hangzhou West Lake Scenic Area Administration, 2026-01-29
On our site: Lingyin Temple and Feilai Peak

The arrival card can be filled in online before you fly

From 20 Nov 2025 · Foreign visitors entering China

Before: Paper cards, kiosks or a QR code at the border.
Now: Fill it in before you land at s.nia.gov.cn, in the NIA 12367 app, or in the WeChat or Alipay mini program. The border still offers a QR code, kiosks and paper cards.
Source: National Immigration Administration, 2025-11-03
On our site: China arrival card

240-hour transit adds five Guangdong ports near Hong Kong and Macao: 65 in all

From 5 Nov 2025 · Transit passengers of the eligible countries

Before: 60 entry ports.
Now: Guangzhou Pazhou port, Hengqin, the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge, Zhongshan port and Hong Kong West Kowloon station (high-speed rail) became entry ports for the 240-hour transit, making 65 ports in 24 provincial-level regions.
Source: National Immigration Administration, 2025-11-03
On our site: Visa

30-day visa-free entry extended to the end of 2026, and Sweden added

Announced 3 Nov 2025 · Ordinary passport holders of the listed countries

Before: The policy was due to end on 31 December 2025.
Now: For most listed countries it now runs to 31 December 2026; Sweden joined the list.
Source: State Council (english.www.gov.cn), 2025-11-04
On our site: Visa

Three Gorges Museum: no booking, walk in with ID

From 1 Oct 2025 · Everyone visiting the main museum in Chongqing

Before: Visitors had to book ahead.
Now: Walk in with a valid ID. The museum may post crowd warnings on its WeChat account when it gets busy.
Source: Chongqing China Three Gorges Museum, 2025-09-30
On our site: Three Gorges Museum

Russia joins the 30-day visa-free list as a one-year trial

From 15 Sep 2025 · Russian ordinary passport holders

Now: Russian ordinary passport holders can stay up to 30 days without a visa, from 15 September 2025 to 14 September 2026.
Since replaced: [Visa-free entry for Russians extended to the end of 2027](#2026-05-20-visa-free-russia-2027) (20 May 2026)
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, 2025-09-02; Chinese central government (gov.cn) / Xinhua, 2025-09-02
On our site: Visa

Shanghai Museum on People's Square: walk in without booking

From 1 Sep 2025 · Individual visitors

Before: Visitors needed a reservation.
Now: Individual visitors could enter without a reservation; major exhibitions could still require one.
Since replaced: [Shanghai Museum on People's Square: book ahead for the Americas exhibition](#2026-07-09-shanghai-museum-americas-booking) (9 Jul 2026)
Source: Shanghai Museum, 2025-08-25
On our site: Shanghai Museum on People’s Square

National Museum of China: one booking a week per account, up to 7 days ahead

From 1 Aug 2025 · Everyone booking the National Museum

Now: Book up to 7 days ahead, in three entry slots; tickets are released daily at 17:00. Each account can book once a week for up to 5 people; each ID up to 4 times a month. Three no-shows block booking for 30 days. Closed Mondays except public holidays.
Source: National Museum of China, 2025-07-25
On our site: National Museum of China

Malaysia moves from the one-sided visa-free list to a mutual agreement

From 17 Jul 2025 · Malaysian ordinary passport holders

Before: Malaysians came in under China's one-sided visa-free policy (since 1 December 2023).
Now: Malaysian ordinary passport holders can stay up to 30 days per stay and 90 days in any 180 days under a mutual visa exemption agreement.
Source: China Consular Service (MFA), list of mutual visa exemption agreements, 2026-07-16; National Immigration Administration (Q&A on mutual visa exemption), 2025-06-27
On our site: Visa

Azerbaijan and China drop visas for each other's citizens

From 16 Jul 2025 · Azerbaijani ordinary passport holders

Now: Ordinary passport holders can stay up to 30 days per stay and 90 days in any 180 days, both ways, under a mutual visa exemption agreement.
Source: China Consular Service (MFA), list of mutual visa exemption agreements, 2026-07-16; National Immigration Administration (Q&A on mutual visa exemption), 2025-06-27
On our site: Visa

Shanghai metro: tap a contactless bank card at the gate, on every line

From 28 Jun 2025 · Visitors riding the Shanghai metro

Before: You needed a metro code in an app, a transport card or a single-journey ticket.
Now: UnionPay, Visa, Mastercard, American Express and JCB contactless cards (some chip types excluded) work at the gates across the whole network, after a trial on the Maglev.
Source: Shanghai Municipal People's Government, 2025-06-27
On our site: Getting around

Beijing metro gates take JCB and American Express too

From 15 Jun 2025 · Visitors riding the Beijing metro

Before: Visa and Mastercard only.
Now: All 29 lines, including the two airport express lines, take UnionPay, Visa, Mastercard, JCB and American Express contactless cards at the gate.
Source: Beijing Municipal People's Government, 2025-06-16
On our site: Getting around

Indonesia joins the 240-hour visa-free transit

From 12 Jun 2025 · Indonesian passport holders in transit to a third country

Before: 54 countries were eligible.
Now: Indonesian citizens can use the 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit, making 55 eligible countries.
Source: National Immigration Administration, 2025-06-12
On our site: Visa

Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain join the 30-day visa-free list

From 9 Jun 2025 · Ordinary passport holders of the four countries

Now: Ordinary passport holders from the four countries can stay up to 30 days without a visa. The trial first ran to 8 June 2026 and was later extended to 31 December 2026.
Source: Chinese central government (gov.cn) / Xinhua, 2025-05-28; Chinese Visa Application Service Center (notice on extending visa-free entry)
On our site: Visa

Uzbekistan and China drop visas for each other's citizens

From 1 Jun 2025 · Uzbek ordinary passport holders

Now: Ordinary passport holders can stay up to 30 days per stay and 90 days in any 180 days, both ways, under a mutual visa exemption agreement.
Source: China Consular Service (MFA), list of mutual visa exemption agreements, 2026-07-16; National Immigration Administration (Q&A on mutual visa exemption), 2025-06-27
On our site: Visa

Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru and Uruguay join the 30-day visa-free list

From 1 Jun 2025 · Ordinary passport holders of the five countries

Now: Ordinary passport holders from the five countries can stay up to 30 days without a visa. The trial first ran to 31 May 2026 and was later extended to 31 December 2026.
Source: Chinese central government (gov.cn) / Xinhua, 2025-05-15; Chinese Visa Application Service Center (notice on extending visa-free entry)
On our site: Visa

WeChat Pay: 60 fee-free days for first-time foreign-card users

Announced 28 May 2025 · Visitors paying with a foreign card linked to WeChat

Now: Link an international card to WeChat Pay for the first time and the 3% fee is waived for 60 days from your first payment, on up to ¥1,000 a day (at most ¥30 saved per payment). Payments under ¥200 are fee-free for all foreign-card users.
Since replaced: [WeChat Pay: no card fee for 90 days after you first link a foreign card](#2026-05-27-wechat-pay-first-card-90-days) (27 May 2026)
Source: Foreign Affairs Office of Beijing, 2025-05-28; Beijing Municipal People's Government, 2026-03-26
On our site: Paying

National Museum of China: only verified accounts can book

From 6 May 2025 · Everyone booking the National Museum

Before: Any account could book.
Now: Bookings need an account verified by the national online ID service or WeChat. The notice does not say how foreign passport holders verify.
Source: National Museum of China, 2025-04-15
On our site: National Museum of China

Shaanxi History Museum: new booking system, tickets released 5 days ahead

From 14 Jan 2025 · Everyone booking the Shaanxi History Museum

Now: Tickets for the main building are released 5 days ahead at 17:00 (Qin-Han hall at 17:30), on the new booking system.
Source: Shaanxi History Museum, 2025-01-13
On our site: Shaanxi History Museum (main building)

2024

72- and 144-hour transit replaced by a single 240-hour stay

From 17 Dec 2024 · Passport holders of the eligible countries in transit

Before: Visa-free transit of 72 or 144 hours, through 39 ports in 19 provincial-level regions.
Now: 240 hours (10 days) for 54 countries, through 60 ports in 24 provincial-level regions. You still need an onward ticket to a third country or region.
Source: State Council (english.www.gov.cn), 2024-12-17
On our site: Visa

Visa-free stays go from 15 days to 30, and nine more countries join

From 30 Nov 2024 · Ordinary passport holders of the listed countries

Before: Up to 15 days visa-free for the listed countries.
Now: Up to 30 days. Nine more countries, Japan among them, joined, making 38.
Source: State Council (english.www.gov.cn), 2024-11-22
On our site: Visa

South Korea, the Nordics and four more European countries join the visa-free list

From 8 Nov 2024 · Ordinary passport holders of the nine countries

Now: Ordinary passport holders from Slovakia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein and South Korea could stay up to 15 days without a visa, until 31 December 2025.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, 2024-11-01
On our site: Visa

Portugal, Greece, Cyprus and Slovenia join the visa-free list

From 15 Oct 2024 · Ordinary passport holders of the four countries

Now: Ordinary passport holders from the four countries could stay up to 15 days without a visa, until 31 December 2025.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, 2024-09-30
On our site: Visa

Chengdu Panda Base: Trip.com and other apps sell tickets again

List dated 24 Sep 2024 · Everyone booking the Panda Base

Before: From 1 January 2024 tickets were sold only on the base's own WeChat account and mini program.
Now: The base lists Meituan, Trip.com, Douyin and two Chengdu WeChat accounts as authorised sellers, next to its own WeChat channels. Without a Chinese mobile number, buy on Trip.com, or at the cash and card window when tickets are left.
Source: Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, 2024-09-24; Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, 2023-12-18
On our site: Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

Shanghai Museum East: individual visitors walk in with valid ID, no booking

From 15 Sep 2024 · Individual visitors

Before: Booking needed.
Now: Individual visitors can enter without booking through the B1 east entrance with valid ID. The Ancient Civilisation exploration hall and the digital gallery still need a booking. Closed Tuesdays.
Source: Shanghai Museum, 2024-09-10
On our site: Shanghai Museum East

Beijing metro: tap a foreign Visa or Mastercard at the gate

From 13 Sep 2024 · Visitors riding the Beijing metro

Now: Overseas Visa and Mastercard contactless cards started working at Beijing metro gates.
Source: Beijing Municipal People's Government, 2025-06-16
On our site: Getting around

Australia, New Zealand and Poland join the visa-free list

From 1 Jul 2024 · Ordinary passport holders of the three countries

Now: Ordinary passport holders from Australia, New Zealand and Poland could stay up to 15 days without a visa, until 31 December 2025.
Source: Foreign Affairs Office of Beijing (reposting the MFA notice), 2024-06-25
On our site: Visa

Georgia and China drop visas for each other's citizens

From 28 May 2024 · Georgian ordinary passport holders

Now: Ordinary passport holders can stay up to 30 days per stay and 90 days in any 180 days, both ways, under a mutual visa exemption agreement.
Source: China Consular Service (MFA), list of mutual visa exemption agreements, 2026-07-16; National Immigration Administration (Q&A on mutual visa exemption), 2025-06-27
On our site: Visa

Visa-free entry for the first 12 countries extended to the end of 2025

Announced 7 May 2024 · Ordinary passport holders of the 12 countries

Before: The trial for these countries was due to end on 30 November 2024.
Now: China extended visa-free entry for France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Malaysia, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium and Luxembourg to 31 December 2025.
Source: Chinese central government (gov.cn) / Xinhua, 2024-05-07
On our site: Visa

Shanghai Museum: English booking site, and tickets 14 days ahead

From 19 Apr 2024 · Overseas visitors to Shanghai Museum

Before: Bookings opened 7 days ahead; there was no English booking channel for overseas visitors.
Now: Overseas visitors could book on the museum's English site with an email address, and get the booking QR code by email. Bookings opened 14 days ahead.
Since replaced: [Shanghai Museum on People's Square: walk in without booking](#2025-09-01-shanghai-museum-walk-in) (1 Sep 2025)
Source: Shanghai Museum, 2024-04-19
On our site: Shanghai Museum on People’s Square

Six more European countries get 15 days visa-free, Switzerland among them

From 14 Mar 2024 · Ordinary passport holders of the six countries

Before: Six countries (France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Malaysia) were on the trial.
Now: Ordinary passport holders from Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium and Luxembourg could stay up to 15 days without a visa, at first until 30 November 2024.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, 2024-03-07
On our site: Visa

Alipay and WeChat Pay limits for foreign visitors raised to US$5,000 a payment

Announced 1 Mar 2024 · Visitors paying with Alipay or WeChat Pay and a foreign card

Before: US$1,000 a payment and US$10,000 a year.
Now: The central bank said the per-payment limit for overseas users would rise from US$1,000 to US$5,000, and the yearly limit from US$10,000 to US$50,000.
Source: State Council Information Office briefing (gov.cn), 2024-03-01
On our site: Paying

Thailand and China drop visas for each other's citizens

From 1 Mar 2024 · Thai ordinary passport holders

Now: Ordinary passport holders can stay up to 30 days per stay and 90 days in any 180 days, both ways, under a mutual visa exemption agreement.
Source: China Consular Service (MFA), list of mutual visa exemption agreements, 2026-07-16; National Immigration Administration (Q&A on mutual visa exemption), 2025-06-27
On our site: Visa

Singapore and China drop visas for each other's citizens

From 9 Feb 2024 · Singaporean ordinary passport holders

Now: Ordinary passport holders can stay up to 30 days per stay and 90 days in any 180 days, both ways, under a mutual visa exemption agreement.
Source: China Consular Service (MFA), list of mutual visa exemption agreements, 2026-07-16; National Immigration Administration (Q&A on mutual visa exemption), 2025-06-27
On our site: Visa

2023

One-sided visa-free entry begins as a trial for six countries

From 1 Dec 2023 · Passport holders of the six countries

Now: Ordinary passport holders from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia could stay up to 15 days without a visa.
Source: Beijing Municipal People's Government (Xinhua), 2023-11-25
On our site: Visa

12306 checks foreign passports online, so no station visit before buying trains

From 28 Nov 2023 · Foreign visitors booking trains on 12306

Before: You had to show your passport at a station window before buying online.
Now: On the 12306 rail site and app, foreign passport holders can verify their identity online, automatically or by uploading a passport photo for manual review. Station windows still do it too.
Source: Foreign Affairs Office of Beijing (China Railway), 2023-11-29
On our site: Getting around

Norway joins the 72/144-hour visa-free transit

From 17 Nov 2023 · Norwegian passport holders in transit to a third country

Before: 53 countries were eligible.
Now: Norwegian citizens can use the 72- and 144-hour visa-free transit, making 54 eligible countries.
Source: Chinese central government (gov.cn) (reposting the NIA), 2023-11-17
On our site: Visa

Kazakhstan and China drop visas for each other's citizens

From 10 Nov 2023 · Kazakh ordinary passport holders

Now: Ordinary passport holders can stay up to 30 days per stay and 90 days in any 180 days, both ways, under a mutual visa exemption agreement.
Source: China Consular Service (MFA), list of mutual visa exemption agreements, 2026-07-16; National Immigration Administration (Q&A on mutual visa exemption), 2025-06-27
On our site: Visa

Forbidden City tickets split into morning and afternoon slots

From 1 Nov 2023 · Everyone visiting the Palace Museum

Now: Book a morning or an afternoon slot on the Palace Museum WeChat mini program. Morning tickets must be scanned by 12:00; afternoon tickets from 11:00.
Source: The Palace Museum, 2023-10-24
On our site: The Palace Museum (Forbidden City)

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