China Travel News: March 2024

China has recently expanded its visa-free travel policy to include citizens from six new European countries: Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg. Travelers from these nations can now spend up to 15 days in China for business, tourism, family visits, or transit purposes without needing a visa. Additionally, last month, China extended visa-free travel privileges to Georgian citizens, allowing them to explore China for a period of 30 days without the requirement of a visa. These expansions follow China's successful implementation of visa-free policies for France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain, as well as mutual visa exemption agreements with Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. These efforts have led to a significant increase in travel bookings between China and these countries, with bookings doubling compared to 2019.

China is making it easier for foreigners to use mobile pay, addressing a common issue faced by foreigners. Many international travelers have long found it hard to make payments in China because mobile payments have become the only possible payment method, and cash or international bank cards aren't always accepted.

To address this, Chinese authorities are encouraging tourist attractions to accept cash and overseas bank cards. Major tech companies like 支付宝 and WeChat Pay are also stepping up to support international travelers:

• Alipay has raised the single-transaction limit for foreign travelers from US$1,000 to US$5,000. Moreover, the annual cumulative transaction limit for foreign visitors has been increased to US$50,000, up from the previous limit of US$10,000
• WeChat Pay is simplifying the process for foreigners to link their international bank cards without requiring "complete information." Moreover, for those who prefer not to link their cards, WeChat Pay is developing a solution allowing them to top up their accounts with up to $500 for hassle-free spending.

China's Civil Aviation Authority has announced that the number of weekly flights between China and the United States will increase from 35 to 50. Starting from April, airlines from both countries will be permitted a combined total of 100 flights per week. This move underscores the commitment of both nations to strengthen air travel connections and facilitate greater exchange and cooperation.

China Eastern Airlines celebrated a major achievement on March 8 by opening its third commercial route with the domestically produced C919 passenger jet. This new route links Shanghai Hongqiao Airport and Xi'an Xianyang Airport. Previously, the airline had launched routes between Shanghai Hongqiao Airport and Chengdu Tianfu Airport in central Sichuan province, as well as between Shanghai Hongqiao Airport and Beijing Daxing Airport.

China's T-Flight maglev hyperloop train has shattered the world speed record, reaching an impressive 387 mph (623 km/h). Developed by the state-owned China Aerospace Science & Industry Corporation Limited (CASIC), the T-Flight represents a significant advancement in maglev technology. Unlike traditional trains, the maglev system propels pods through tunnels with minimal air resistance, allowing for unprecedented speeds. This recent achievement in China surpasses the previous record held by Japan's L0 Series SCMaglev, which reached a maximum speed of 375 mph (603 km/h).

Looking forward, CASIC has ambitious plans to further enhance the capabilities of the T-Flight. They aim to extend the track to 37 miles (60 km) and reach speeds up to 621 mph (1,000 km/h) in the next testing phase. This would make the new train surpass the speed of commercial passenger jets. Hyperloop technology could change the future of travel, providing a quicker and greener option to air travel.

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